Peer To Peer Network Architecture: Why and Why not?
Peer To Peer Network Architecture: Why and Why not?
In a Peer to Peer network, the "peers" are computer systems which are connected to each other via the Internet. Files can be shared directly between systems on the network without the need of a central server. In other words, each computer on a P2P network becomes a file server as well as a client. Let's discuss this model in detail.
Continuing our ride through Networking Architecture models, the topic on our hand today is Peer to Peer Network Architecture Model. We shall discuss the meaning and some advantages and disadvantages of this model in this article.
What is Peer to Peer Network Architecture?
Peer to Peer Networking stand apart from Client Server model in the sense that each computer in this connection is a server for another computer. Each device on this network called "peer" shares its resources with another computer on the network, thus eliminating the need for a server at all.
A P2P network can be an ad hoc connection - a couple of computers connected via a universal serial bus to transfer files. A P2P network also can be a permanent infrastructure that links half-dozen computers in a small office over copper wires. Example – Napster, Freenet etc.
The prime objective goal of a P2P (Peer-to-Peer) file-sharing network is that many computers come together and pool their resources to form a content distribution system.
Significance of Peer to Peer:
The computers are often simply home computers. They do not need to be machines in internet data centers. The computers are called peers because each one can alternately act as a client to another peer, fetching its content, and as a server, providing content to other peers. Though there is no dedicated infrastructure, P2P networks handle a very high volume of file sharing traffic by distributing the load across many computers on the Internet. Everyone participates in the task of distributing content, and there is often no central point of control.
Configured computers in P2P workgroups allow sharing of files, printers and other resources across all of the devices. Peer networks allow data to be shared easily in both directions, whether for downloads to the computer or uploads from the computer.
Because they do not rely exclusively on central servers, P2P networks both scale better and are more resilient than client-server networks in case of failures or traffic bottlenecks. A P2P network can be a network on a much grander scale in which special protocols and applications set up direct relationships among users over the Internet.
Let us discuss some advantages and disadvantages of this model.
Advantages
Following are the major advantages of Peer-to-Peer networks:
(i) Peer-to-Peer Networks are easy and simple to set up and only require a Hub or a Switch to connect all the computers together.
(ii) It is very simple and cost effective.
(iii) If one computer fails to work, all other computers connected to it continue to work.
Disadvantages
The major disadvantages of peer-to-peer networks are as below:
(i) There can be problem in accessing files if computers are not connected properly.
(ii) It does not support connections with too many computers as the performance gets degraded in case of high network size.
(iii) The data security is very poor in this architecture.
Well, that's it on Peer to Peer Networking Model. You can check out articles for Client Server - Introduction and Basic features from these links. Next Stop Multi Tier Architectures.
And like always, if you have any concerns, doubts or suggestions just click on ask questions at the left panel of your screen.
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