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Cyberspace Engineers

Engineering Cyberspace!

Node

 

The node is the fundamental computing/storage unit in the distributed system.

There is only one node resident per computer. This doesn't prevent several remote nodes being accessed simultaneously by one or more clients located on the same computer however.

The node has a single 'node ID' for its lifetime. It's IP address may change during its lifetime. See here for how a node's identity could be secured.

Each node may create one universe (like a website). This is a crude means of assigning authority to a universe, it doesn't necessarily prevent anyone else modifying it, but it does establish this principle. At a future date it may be possible to assert this authority (with appropriate security technology).

The node interface is the primary interface for a node.

IUnknown/ILocalNode/INode

The local node interface is only available to applications on the same machine or which have the necessary privileges to access the node remotely.

ModifyUniverse(IModifyUniverse**)	// Adjust the universe of the local node

IUnknown/INode/IValue

GetNode(INode**,NodeID)			// Retrieve the interface to any node
GetUniverse(IUniverse**,[Universe URL])	// Retreive the interface to any universe
ListUniverses(IEnumUniverse**,[Criterai])	// Retrieves an interface that allows dynamic update of 
		// a list of universes matching particular criteria