Re: Anyone know if RSS <cloud> is used in the real world?

Subject: Re: Anyone know if RSS <cloud> is used in the real world?

From: Jens Alfke <email@hidden>

Date: Fri, 20 Jan 2006 21:04:53 -0800

Delivered-to: email@hidden

On 20 Jan '06, at 2:24 AM, Graham Parks wrote:

I've said this many times before, but the only way to do push is to have a network of centralized servers run by either ISPs or client app publishers. Each client opens a connection to the server and leaves it open for as long as the user is online. As the server receives notifications, they get pushed down the connection to the client.

I think this is a useful model, but it doesn't have to be as centralized as you suggest. Anyone with a server can run such a service, just as with Jabber, or SMTP for that matter. (The present email infrastructure comes close to what you describe, except that IMAP for some reason forbade the server from initiating a notification to the client, only responding to client commands, so the client is still forced to poll over an open socket.)

In essence, the servers form a P2P network, with membership requiring an always-on globally-reachable static IP connection. The clients, with lesser connectivity, then attach to the edge of that network, each to a single server. (Even full P2P networks like Gnutella or FasTrack end up arranging themselves this way, generally, as an optimization.)

This is the model used for things like AOL Instant Messenger, and it works really well.

I'd hesitate to call out AIM as an example of a model that could be used for other things. The only reason AIM works (at its present scale) is that AOL has thrown a terrifyingly powerful server farm, with enormous pipes, at it. There are a billion IMs a day going in and out of that building in Virginia.

--Jens

___________________________________________

Jens Alfke — Social Software Introvert — Apple Computer

Getting bored is not allowed

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References:
	>Re: Anyone know if RSS <cloud> is used in the real world? (From: Brent Simmons <email@hidden>)
	>Re: Anyone know if RSS <cloud> is used in the real world? (From: Jake Savin <email@hidden>)
	>Re: Anyone know if RSS <cloud> is used in the real world? (From: Jens Alfke <email@hidden>)
	>Re: Anyone know if RSS <cloud> is used in the real world? (From: Jake Savin <email@hidden>)
	>Re: Anyone know if RSS <cloud> is used in the real world? (From: Danny Ayers <email@hidden>)
	>Re: Anyone know if RSS <cloud> is used in the real world? (From: Graham Parks <email@hidden>)