Active networks have been proposed to allow the dynamic extensionof network behavior by downloading application-specific protocols (ASPs)into network routers. We demonstrate the feasibility of the use of ASPsin an active network for the adaptation of distributed softwarecomponents. We have implemented three examples which show that ASPs canbe used to easily extend distributed applications, and furthermore, thatsuch adaptation can be safe, portable and efficient. Safety andefficiency is obtained by implementing the ASPs in PLAN-P, adomain-specific language and run-time system for active networking. Thepresented examples illustrate three different applications: audiobroadcasting with bandwidth adaptation in routers; an extensible HTTPserver with load-balancing facilities; and a multipoint MPEG serverderived from a point-to-point server
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