Avoca: An environment for programming with protocols.

Abstract

This dissertation addresses three fundamental problems with the network software as it is currently designed and implemented: the poor performance of high modular (or layered) protocols, network software's inability to keep up with the rapid changes in the networking technology and applications demands, and the inordinate amount of time it takes to produce new network protocols. These problems are solved through the use of a new platform for the implementation and execution of network protocols, a new methodology for the design of network protocols and a new network architecture a new network architecture. Avoca is the result of taking a coordinated approach to network software design, implementation, and standardization and consists of three parts: the Avoca platform, the Avoca methodology and the Avoca Network Architecture. The Avoca platform is a small operating systems kernel designed from scratch to implement network protocols efficiently. The Avoca methodology (or Meta-Protocol) is set of rules governing the design and implementation of network protocols implemented on the Avoca platform. The Avoca Network Architecture is a novel architecture explicitly designed to support the rapidly changing networking environment. Using Avoca highly layered network software can be implemented efficiently. Avoca proves that modularity is not inherently slow. Avoca supports the encapsulation, underspecification, composition and reuse of protocols will demonstrated. Avoca shows that network software is amenable to the use of software engineering techniques to improve the protocol implementation process. Finally, Avoca demonstrates that a network architecture flexible enough to support a rapidly changing networking environment is possible.