Peer-to-peer protocol evaluation in topologies resembling wireless networks. An experiment with Gnutella query engine

Abstract

Peer-tepeer (P2P) protocols implemented in wireless networks and mixed scenarios would generate new applications and value added services. In order to analyze the performance of such protocols the specific topologies of current and future wireless networks should be taken into account. In our paper we analyze the performance of a Gnutella-type protocol query engine on random mesh (Random), semi-random mesh (Semi), connected stars (ConStan) and connected mesh (ConMesh) application layer network topologies. In addition we discuss and simulate for the considered topologies the effect of adaptive time-twlive (TTL) techniques. We take into account in our analysis the document replication phenomenon. Within this paper we limit ourselves to the simulation of static network topologies. The results of this study show that Semi and ConStan are the most useful topologies. Semi is the hest topology for heterogeneous devices, e.g. all of the nodes are mobile phones. ConStars is useful when the network consists of devices with dilferent capabilities, e.g. mobile phones and PC-s. If the node degrees are chosen appropriately the bandwidth needs can reasonably small making content sharing peer-twpeer applications feasible in pure wireless networks and mixed scenarios.