A dynamic neighbourhood discovery protocol for active overlay networks

d-RADAR(1) is a neighbourhood discovery protocol for overlay network environments designed for (but not limited to) active network overlays. The core of the algorithm is an expanding ring-search based on the IP routing table content augmented with traffic-based and dynamic refreshing techniques that allows it to react to virtual topology changes (nodes joining/leaving the overlay) as well as IP topology changes (broken and repaired link, route changes and moving nodes). This paper presents how the protocol detects overlay candidate nodes using probing capsules and the algorithms needed to select neighbours among the candidates. We also show how d-RADAR keeps the neighbouring table up to date and learns topology changes while keeping a low discovery and refresh overhead. A short summary of simulations carried out with our active network simulator illustrates how these algorithms actually behave.