Experimenting with a Simulation Framework for Peer-to-Peer File Sharing in Named Data Networking

TL;DR

This paper presents the design and implementation of a simulation framework for nTorrent, a peer-to-peer file sharing application built on Named Data Networking, to study its impact on data-centric communication.

Contribution

It introduces a detailed simulation framework for nTorrent on ndnSIM, including design decisions, trade-offs, and validation processes.

Findings

Framework accurately models nTorrent behavior

Supports experimentation with data-centric P2P sharing

Ensures fundamental properties of nTorrent are preserved

Abstract

Peer-to-peer file sharing envisions a data-centric dissemination model, where files consisting of multiple data pieces can be shared from any peer that can offer the data or from multiple peers simultaneously. This aim, implemented at the application layer of the network architecture, matches with the objective of Named Data Networking (NDN), a proposed Internet architecture that features a data-centric communication model at the network layer. To study the impact of a data-centric network architecture on peer-to-peer file sharing, we proposed nTorrent, a peer-to-peer file sharing application on top of NDN. Since the initial nTorrent proposal in 2017, we have implemented its design in ndnSIM, the de facto NDN simulator. In this paper, we present the design of our nTorrent simulation framework, discussing various design decisions and trade-offs. We also describe our experimentation and validation process to ensure that our framework possesses the fundamental properties of nTorrent.