On Algebraic Traceback in Dynamic Networks

Abstract: This paper introduces the concept of incremental traceback for determining changes in the trace of a network as it evolves with time. A distributed algorithm, based on the methodology of algebraic traceback developed by Dean et al, is proposed which can completely determine a path of d nodes/routers using O(d) marked packets, and subsequently determine the changes in its topology using O(log d) marked packets with high probability. The algorithm is established to be order-wise optimal i.e., no other distributed algorithm can determine changes in the path topology using lesser order of bits (i.e., marked packets). The algorithm is shown to have a computational complexity of O(d log d), which is significantly less than that of any existing non-incremental algorithm of algebraic traceback. Extensions of this algorithm to settings with node identity spoofing and network coding are also presented.