Peer-to-peer networks include all computers connected by the internet, known as "peers." Users can share any file over a P2P network independently. Our first step is to examine what a peer-to-peer network is and the types of peer-to-peer networks.
What is a peer-to-peer network?
A P2P (peer-to-peer) network lets computers share files and access printers by connecting. Peer-to-peer systems were first introduced in the 1980s with the first freestanding PCs - when computers were no longer dependent on centralized systems but were utterly self-contained.
The benefit of this was more freedom, but it was also difficult to share data or send files to print without physically transferring the files to a printer. A computer can connect to another computer through peer-to-peer networks, sharing resources such as printers.
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Different Types of Peer-to-Peer Network
The following 3 types of peer-to-peer networks we'll cover:
Pure Peer to Peer Network
Pure peer-to-peer networks are also referred to as "fully peer-to-peer networks." As this P2P network has no centralized dedicated server, all peers play the same role equally.
Example – "Gnutella Protocol," which locates all the files and documents on a network.
Structured P2P Networks
Peer-to-peer structured networks are more challenging to set up than unstructured ones, giving users better access to rare content. P2P networks with a structure experience fewer churns than unstructured networks.
Hybrid Peer to Peer Network
With a hybrid peer-to-peer network, a server acts as the central point in the network by maintaining data about the peers and responding to requests. The server manages to track all resources on the web. This server takes full responsibility for all resource management.
Advantages of Peer to Peer Network
We will discuss several peer-to-peer network advantages and disadvantages here. The following advantages of peer to peer network are:
An operating system is not necessary for your network.
No server is necessary since any workstation can access any file.
Using the network, each user can share any file that they choose. This peer-to-peer network does not require well-trained staff.
It is unnecessary to have a full-time system administrator to manage a peer-to-peer network.
This P2P can configure with no high-level knowledge.
P2P networks offer excellent protection.
If this entire network halts, it will not affect the other pieces of this network.
The P2P network is adaptable due to the ease of configuring new computers in this network. It provides more flexibility.
As a result of its best scalability, it offers better performance since adding another client does not adversely affect performance.
Disadvantages of Peer to Peer Network
Peer-to-peer networks have various limitations that we will discuss in this section. They are as follows:
Decentralization makes Peer-to-Peer networks quite challenging for administrators. One person cannot control the entire network's accessibility.
A person can access any computer on the network at any given time.
There is a unique password for each computer on the network.
There is no central data storage medium for archiving files.
Due to multiple users accessing every laptop, performance is slow.
Backing up data is difficult since information is stored on various computer systems, and there is no centralized server.
P2P networks have less security because each computer performs its tasks and contains its data. The network can thus easily transmit viruses and other Trojans.
Torrents send copyrighted content, such as movies, music, and other pieces.
Characteristics of Peer to Peer Network
Here we discuss some characteristics and features of peer to peer networks, such as:
Peer-to-peer networks require both consumption and production of resources since more users mean more capacity for resource sharing through the network.
Protecting each node within the P2P network is challenging since all nodes perform various tasks like clients and servers.
Windows and Mac OS are among the advanced operating systems it can support.
Scalability and stability are better with it.
Since all nodes in the P2P network are autonomous, the network does not require a central repository to manage its content.
Data is flowing from one side to the other.
Examples of Peer to Peer Network
The following peer to peer network examples are as follows:
Napster
Shawn Fanning, an American college student, introduced Napster in 1999. The program allows you to share files over the internet and store music on your computer. The service has been discontinued since 2001.
Bit Torrent
It's typically used to share files over the Internet and distribute data decentralized. This protocol is mainly used for transferring large files, such as video files for creating TV shows and video clips.
Bitcoin
Peer-to-peer payment networks are also used by Bitcoin, in which cryptographic protocols facilitate the transfer of bitcoins.
Gnutella
The Gnutella network allows users to send and receive all data over the internet via a peer-to-peer network.
Kazaa
Sharman Networks operated the Kazaa peer-to-peer file sharing application, run by Joltid LTD and enabled with the FastTrack protocol. Its primary function was to upload MP3 music files and video and text files over the internet.
Peer to peer architecture
A peer-to-peer architecture refers to a computer network without a division of responsibilities among the nodes or workstations. The same set of duties and actions apply to every section. In contrast to the classic client-server architecture, hierarchical networking techniques are the norm in a modern client-server architecture.
Peer-to-peer network topology
The peer-to-peer architecture connects each node directly to the others. Nodes on the network are called peers. Peers provide services to each other and utilize one another's services. The system has no central server.
Final Thoughts
In this article, we discussed various types of peer-to-peer networks. Multiple computers can share resources in peer-to-peer networks, including content or devices, without relying on a server.
For smaller businesses, installing a permanent P2P network option such as copper wire connections is less expensive to install and maintain than a client/server network.