Spinglass: Secure and Scalable Communication Tools for Mission-Critical Computing

Most existing communications technologies are either not scalable at all, or scale only under carefully controlled conditions. This threatens an emerging generation of mission-critical but very large computing systems, which will need communication support for such purposes as system management and control, policy administration, data dissemination, and to initiate adaptation in demanding environments. Cornell University’s Spinglass project has discovered that “gossip-based” protocols can overcome scalability problems, offering security and reliability even in the most demanding settings. Gossip protocols emulate the spread of an infection in a crowded population, and are both reliable and stable under forms of stress that can disable more traditional protocols. Our effort is developing a new generation of gossip-based technology for secure, reliable large-scale collaboration and soft real-time communications – even over global networks.