Scalable Bulk Data Transfer in Wide Area Networks

Bulk data transfer in wide area networks (WAN) requires scalable and high network bandwidth. In this paper, we identify a number of the scalability limitations that affect the full utilization of peak theoretical network bandwidth. In addition, we study and classify different offered approaches to overcome some of the identified limitations and increase network bandwidth among Grid components in WAN. With these limitations in mind, we study and evaluate the scalability and flexibility of a UDP-based multiple-network-interface socket (MuniSocket) model in WAN. The MuniSocket model is a middleware layer between the distributed applications and the multiple networks and system resources available. MuniSocket utilizes existing system resources, network interface cards, and network links to provide a scalable, reliable and high bandwidth network solution for data-intensive distributed applications, thus eliminating most of the identified limi-