Upgrading transport protocols using untrusted mobile code

In this paper, we present STP, a system in which communicating end hosts use untrusted mobile code to remotely upgrade each other with the transport protocols that they use to communicate. New transport protocols are written in a type-safe version of C, distributed out-of-band, and run in-kernel. Communicating peers select a transport protocol to use as part of a TCP-like connection setup handshake that is backwards-compatible with TCP and incurs minimum connection setup latency. New transports can be invoked by unmodified applications. By providing a late binding of protocols to hosts, STP removes many of the delays and constraints that are otherwise commonplace when upgrading the transport protocols deployed on the Internet. STP is simultaneously able to provide a high level of security and performance. It allows each host to protect itself from untrusted transport code and to ensure that this code does not harm other network users by sending significantly faster than a compliant ...

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2003
• Where: SOSP
• Authors: Parveen Patel, Andrew Whitaker, David Wetherall, Jay Lepreau, Tim Stack
• Keywords: Keywords Transport Protocols, Operating System, SOSP 2003, Transport Code, Transport Protocols