Title: "End-to-end Arguments in System Design"

Author: Yu Liao

Problem:

How to place functions among a distributed computer system.

Contribution

It presents a design priciple that provides guidance in the choice of the function placement.

Key Ideas

Moving funtion upward in a layered system, closer to the application that uses the function, because the function can only be implemented correctly and completely with the help of the application standing at the end points of the communication system.
Performance doesn't justify placing functions at lower-level, reasons 1) Too many functions that don't need them must pay for them. 2) Lower-level may not have sufficient information to do the job efficiently.
End-to-end argument is not absolute rule, it's just a guideline in application and protocol design analysis, the end points must be identified.

Critique

modest contribution: since it made explicit the design guideline which were practised for many years, so others can realize this principle and use it consiciously.
The augument is convincing, many real examples are presented in the paper.

Lessons learned

Sometimes a common pratice needs to be stated explicitly, systematically, it could make a good paper, many could benefit from it by studying the paper, and following the guidelines.