SCALAR: Scalable Data Lookup and Replication Framework for Mobile Ad-hoc Networks

Abstract

Data replication protocols proposed for MANETs are often prone to the scalability problems due to their definitions or underlying routing protocols they are based on. In particular, they exhibit poor performance when the network size is scaled up. However,scalability is an important criterion for several MANET applications. We propose a scalable and reactive data replication approach, named SCALAR, combined with a low-cost data lookup protocol. SCALAR is a virtual backbone based solution, in which the network nodes construct a connected dominating set based on network topology graph. Extensive simulations are performed to analyze and compare the behavior of this framework. It is demonstrated as an efficient solution for high-density, high-load, large scale mobile ad hoc networks.