What is Peer to Peer Network?
Definition: In the peer to peer network, all “Peers” means all computers which linked with each other through internet. P2P network has not any central server, so each user is capable to share any types of files on any peer over this network. On other words, you can say that every peer on this P2P N/W plays role as server & client.
Diagram of Peer to Peer Network
In P2P network, three methods are using for connecting multiple systems like as basic method is to use USB (universal serial bus). This uses to make connection between two peers. Second method is to use copper wires to make connection for more computers. And finally method is to use protocols which help to control all connections between several terminals on the internet.
Why to Use P2P Network?
Also Read: What is Hub in Network? Types, Working, Pros & Cons
Due to these points, to be using P2P network with securely and efficiently:
- Protect peer to peer network with using of network security solutions.
- It helps to control your precious data and several applications.
- Monitor your entire network continuously for malware.
- Develop a cyber security policy and invest in network security to protect advanced networks. And, users create with P2P software as they can have software-based vulnerabilities. By taking these preventative actions, you can prevent remote exploits, which are attacks that take advantage of the vulnerabilities in electronic systems to deny services or spread malware.
- Invest in high-quality P2P software which is more resilient to remote exploits to set up your network.
How to Work Peer to Peer Network?
When users want to download any file from internet then they need to use of web browser for opening website over the internet. In this scenario, website plays the role as server and computer of users work as client for receiving all files. This model performs their tasks like as one-way road where downloaded data moves from point 1, to point 2.
Also Read: What is Bridge in Networking? Types, Uses, & Working
In the case of P2P network, if users want to download same data through P2P N/W, then downloading task get controll in different manner. Users have to need peer to peer program for installing on their PCs, which help to generate virtual network of P2P application users. Then when the user downloads a file; then it receives in bits that come from various computers in the network that already have that file.
Simultaneously, file also moves from user’s PCs to other computer systems that ask for it. This scenario works as two ways road – all file get convert into various small bits of data which come from user’s PCs but it releases after sending requests. Then file transfer into all peer computer systems.
Peer to Peer Architecture
Peer to peer (P2P) architecture is mostly implementing over the computer networking architecture. This is because; in this system every workstation and other nodes have equally abilities and responsibilities as well. And, in this architecture, few computer systems get dedicate to server anthers.
P2P architecture is mostly suitable for small region area like as house and small office region because in this network every computer plays the role as independent workstation and it can save all data in own hard disk.
Peer to peer architecture is using of single software program where every piece of program performs their all tasks as both client and server along with similar responsibilities and capabilities.
Applications of Peer to Peer Architecture
There are various areas where to use P2P network, such as –
- File sharing
- Instant messaging
- Voice Communication
- Collaboration
- High Performance Computing
- Streaming media
- Peer casting for multicasting streams where to use on demand content delivery.
- Science
- Search and communication network
Types of Peer to Peer Network
In this section, we will discuss about different types of Peer to Peer (P2P) network, below explain each one:
Pure Peer to Peer Network
Pure peer-to-peer Network is known as “Fully peer-to-peer Network“. In this network, all peers play the role equally because this P2P network does not contain any centralized dedicated server.
Example – “Gnutella Protocol” that protocol is capable to find and locate all files over that network.
Unstructured P2P Networks
In this network, to connect every devices of network with each other is easy task. All devices have to make same contribution, but due to lack of structure, users can face some difficulties for searching rare content. Its churn rate has higher, churn rare means how many users are joining and releasing of the network.
Structured P2P Networks
Structured P2P network is not easy to set up compare to unstructured network, but it allows users excellent access for finding the rare content over the network. This structured P2P networks have less churn rate to unstructured network.
Hybrid Peer to Peer Network
Hybrid peer-to-peer Network plays the role like as client-server network because it contains one centralized peer that perform all activities as server such as to keep all information on the peers and send the responds to requests for that information.
Centralized peer aware that which types of resources are share able and which are free. They take all responsibility for getting to host management of all available resources.
Examples of Peer to Peer Network
Napster – Nepster introduced by American college student Shawn Fanning, in 1999. It used for file sharing service over the internet, and music could be store on your PCs. But it was shut down in 2001.
Also Read: What is Personal Area Network? Examples & Benefits
Bit Torrent – Bit Torrent is an communication protocol that used for peer to peer file sharing. It helps to distribute data and all fires on the internet into decentralized fashion. Main objective of using of this protocol is to transfer enlarge files like as video files enabling with TV shows and other video clips.
Skype – Skype is an P2P VoIP client that designed by organization that created Kazaa. With the help of it, all users can make voice call and sent text messages to another user; but they must persist on the Skype client.
Bitcoin – Bitcoin also uses the peer-to-peer payment network. And, in which cryptographic protocol is using for operating that helps to users for sending and receiving bitcoins.
Gnutella – Gnutella is a peer to peer network that uses for file sharing over the network. It lets users to send and obtain all data on the internet.
Kazaa – Kazaa was peer to peer file sharing application that enabled with FastTrack protocol licensed by Joltid LTD, and operated by Sharman Networks. Its main goal was to transfer MP3 music files as well as other types of files like as video and text over the internet.
Limewire – Limewire had used for peer to peer file sharing in free of cost for different types of operating systems like as Windows, OS X, Linux and Solaris. LimeWire implemented gnutella network along with BitTorrent protocol.
BearShare – BearShare was introduced by Free Peers, Inc for Microsoft Windows, and then it revised edition of iMesh by MusicLAb. BearShare was an application that also used for peer to peer file sharing.
Morpheus – Morpheus also used for file sharing and finding peer to peer client to Microsoft Windows that was designed and distributed by StreamCast organization.
