NDN

Named Data Networking

Type
Inventor
Inception
Manufacturer
Available
Discontinued
Website	[named-data.net Official website]
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Named Data Networking (NDN) is an innovative approach to network architecture that focuses on data rather than the location of data. Unlike traditional IP networking, which routes data based on IP addresses, NDN routes data based on its name. This paradigm shift is part of the broader Information-Centric Networking (ICN) movement, which aims to address the limitations of the current Internet architecture.

Overview

NDN is designed to improve the efficiency, scalability, and security of data delivery over the Internet. It does so by:

• Naming Data: In NDN, each piece of data is identified by a unique name, which is hierarchical and human-readable. This allows for more intuitive data retrieval and management.
• Data-Centric Security: Security is built into the data itself rather than the connection. Each data packet is signed, ensuring authenticity and integrity.
• In-Network Caching: NDN routers can cache data packets, allowing for efficient data retrieval and reducing redundant data transmission.
• Interest/Data Exchange: Communication in NDN is driven by "Interest" packets, which request data, and "Data" packets, which carry the requested data.

Architecture

The NDN architecture consists of several key components:

• Naming: Names in NDN are hierarchical, similar to URLs, and can represent anything from a single data packet to a collection of data.
• Forwarding Strategy: NDN routers use a forwarding strategy to decide how to forward Interest packets based on network conditions and policies.
• Content Store: Each NDN router has a content store for caching data packets, which helps in reducing latency and improving bandwidth utilization.
• Pending Interest Table (PIT): This table keeps track of all the Interests that have been forwarded but not yet satisfied.
• Forwarding Information Base (FIB): Similar to IP routing tables, the FIB in NDN contains information on how to forward Interests based on name prefixes.

Applications

NDN has potential applications in various fields, including:

• Content Distribution: Efficiently distributing large-scale content such as video streaming and software updates.
• Internet of Things (IoT): Providing a scalable and secure communication framework for IoT devices.
• Mobile Networking: Enhancing data delivery in mobile networks by leveraging in-network caching and data-centric security.

Challenges

Despite its advantages, NDN faces several challenges:

• Scalability: Managing the large number of unique data names and ensuring efficient routing.
• Deployment: Transitioning from the current IP-based infrastructure to NDN.
• Security: While NDN provides data-centric security, it also introduces new security challenges, such as ensuring privacy and preventing cache poisoning.

Research and Development

The NDN project is a collaborative effort involving multiple universities and research institutions. It is funded by the National Science Foundation and aims to develop a comprehensive NDN architecture and explore its potential applications.

Also see

• Information-Centric Networking
• Internet Protocol
• Content Delivery Network
• Internet of Things

References

• Named Data Networking Project
• NDN Today