Server - initiated Document Dissemination for the WWWAzer

In this paper we overview the merits of a data dissemination mechanism that allows information to propagate from its producers to servers that are closer to its consumers. This dissemination reduces network traac and balances load amongst servers by exploiting geographic and temporal locality of reference properties exhibited in client access patterns. The level of dissemination depends on the relative popularity of documents, and on the expected reduction in traac that results from such dissemination. We present results of log analysis and trace-driven simulations that quantify the performance gains achievable through the use of such a protocol.