Introduction

As far as we know, our simulator is the first generic and unified tree-first overlay simulator for multimedia streaming. Until now, all tree-first overlays have utilized individual, ad-hoc simulators which do not provide the opportunity to compare multiple overlay algorithms in the same simulation environment. Our simulator, peer-to-peer network simulator (p2pns), provides a set of API extensions which allows new overlay algorithms to be added seamlessly. p2pns uses network topologies generated by the power-law adhering BRITE topology generator. The BRITE topology generator has recently emerged as one of the more promising universal topology generators. We have shown that our simulator is easily customizable. p2pns can accept one of a multitude of predefined join, duration and peer bandwidth distributions. In addition, new join, duration and peer bandwidth distributions can easily be contributed. We have provided a rich set of metrics that are readily available to use. Additional metrics can be defined and transparently added to our p2pns simulator. Just as we have allowed customization of any simulation input parameter, multiple data output formats can be used simultaneously. We have provided XML, Excel, and Gnuplot simulation output formats. Additional output formats can be defined and added almost effortlessly.

By using our simulator, research teams can readily compare the algorithm that they are developing with a set of already developed algorithms. Thus an overlay research team is able to cost-effectively receive immediate feedback about the algorithm being developed. Finally, we have shown the ability to large-scale simulations in our simulator using a BRITE generated topology network of more than half a million nodes and an overlay with tens of thousands of peer nodes.