Deployment Experience with an Overlay-based Internet
   Broadcasting System

   Yang-hua Chu

   Overlay multicast has been proposed as an alternate architecture for
   enabling group communication applications over the Internet.  In
   contrast with IP Multicast and multicast using active networks,
   overlay multicast implements all multicast functionality at end
   systems.  While an overlay-based solution promises quick deployment,
   the potential concern is performance, as end systems are unreliable,
   heterogeneous, and often with limited bandwidth.


   In the past few years, researchers have proposed solutions to address
   these concerns, and evaluated their solutions through simulation and
   Internet testbeds.  However, there is limited experience from real
   deployment.  We ask the questions: Is overlay multicast mature enough
   to be practically deployable?  If not, what are the research
   challenges?


   In this talk, we report our early experiences in building and
   deploying an operational Internet broadcast system based on overlay
   multicast.  We conducted several broadcast events including
   distinguished lectures and technical conferences.  I summarize our
   experience and the lessons learned.