Overview
NSDI focuses on the design principles, implementation, and practical evaluation of large-scale networked and distributed systems. Systems as diverse as data centers, Internet routing, peer-to-peer and overlay networks, storage clusters, sensor networks, wireless and mobile systems, Web-based systems, and measurement infrastructures share a set of common challenges. Our goal is to bring together researchers from across the networking and systems community to foster a broad approach to addressing our common research challenges.
Topics
NSDI will provide a high-quality, single-track forum for presenting new results and discussing ideas that overlap these disciplines. We seek a broad variety of work that furthers the knowledge and understanding of the networked systems community as a whole, continues a significant research dialog, or pushes the architectural boundaries of large-scale network services.
We solicit papers describing original and previously unpublished research. Specific topics of interest include but are not limited to:

Highly available and reliable networked systems
Security and fault tolerance of networked systems
Distributed storage, caching, and query processing
Energy-efficient computing in networked systems
Overlay networks and peer-to-peer systems
Mobile applications and OS support for mobile or sensor systems
Wireless networked systems, including cross-layer and PHY-aware systems
Network measurements, workload, and topology characterization systems
Self-organizing, autonomous, and federated networked systems
Managing, debugging, and diagnosing problems in networked/distributed systems
Virtualization and resource management for networked systems and clusters
Experience with deployed networked systems
An innovative solution for a significant problem involving networked systems
What to Submit
Submissions must be full papers, at most 14 single-spaced 8.5" x 11" pages, including figures, tables, and references, two-column format, using 10-point type on 12-point (single-spaced) leading, with a maximum text block of 6.5" wide x 9" deep with .25" inter-column space. Papers that do not meet the size and formatting requirements will not be reviewed. Submissions will be judged on originality, significance, interest, clarity, relevance, and correctness.
NSDI is single-blind, meaning that authors should include their names on their paper submissions and do not need to obscure references to their existing work. Authors must submit their paper's title and abstract by September 27, 2011, and the corresponding full paper is due by October 4, 2011 (hard deadline). All papers must be submitted via the Web form, which will be available here soon.

Authors will be notified of paper acceptance or rejection by December 20, 2011. If your paper is accepted and you need an invitation letter to apply for a visa to attend the conference, please contact conference@usenix.org as soon as possible. (Visa applications can take at least 30 working days to process.) Please identify yourself as a presenter and include your mailing address in your email.

Accepted papers may be shepherded through an editorial review process by a member of the Program Committee. Based on initial feedback from the Program Committee, authors of shepherded papers will submit an editorial revision of their paper to their Program Committee shepherd by February 22, 2012. The shepherd will review the paper and give the author additional comments. All authors, shepherded or not, will upload their final file to the submissions system by March 14, 2012, for the conference Proceedings.

All papers will be available online to registered attendees before the conference. If your accepted paper should not be published prior to the event, please notify production@usenix.org. The papers will be available online to everyone beginning on the first day of the conference, April 25, 2012.

Simultaneous submission of the same work to multiple venues, submission of previously published work, or plagiarism constitutes dishonesty or fraud. USENIX, like other scientific and technical conferences and journals, prohibits these practices and may take action against authors who have committed them. See the USENIX Conference Submissions Policy for details.

Previous publication at a workshop is acceptable as long as the NSDI submission includes substantial new material. For instance, submitting a paper that provides a full evaluation of an idea that was previously sketched in a 5-page position paper is acceptable. Authors of such papers should cite the prior workshop paper and clearly state the submission's contribution relative to the prior workshop publication.

Authors uncertain whether their submission meets USENIX's guidelines should contact the Program Co-Chairs, nsdi12chairs@usenix.org, or the USENIX office, submissionspolicy@usenix.org.

Papers accompanied by nondisclosure agreement forms will not be considered. All submissions will be treated as confidential prior to publication on the USENIX NSDI '12 Web site; rejected submissions will be permanently treated as confidential.

One author per paper will receive a registration discount. USENIX will offer a complimentary registration upon request.

Best Paper Awards
Awards will be given for the best paper(s) at the conference.
Community Award
To encourage broader code and data sharing within the NSDI community, the conference will also present a "Community Award" for the best paper whose code and/or data set is made publicly available by the final papers deadline, March 14, 2012. Authors who would like their paper to be considered for this award will have the opportunity to tag their paper during the submission process.
Registration Materials
Complete program and registration information will be available in January 2012 on the conference Web site. If you would like to receive the latest USENIX conference information, please join our mailing list.