Improving object search using hints, gossip, and supernodes

Gnutella is a highly popular protocol for locating objects. It uses a non-scalable approach which results in either high loads or small yields. In this paper we present PALOCATE, an evolving protocol focusing on efficiency without sacrificing quality of recall. We present simulation studies showing the effectiveness of hint-based caching, gossip (epidemics), and incorporating supernodes into the basic protocol.