Peer-to-Peer is a network model in which each computer can function as both a client and a server. Any computer in this network can both receive and transmit data. This model has been around for a number of years and has historically been utilized in small networks and gaming. This is partly due to the fact that all resources in a peer-to-peer network reside on local machines and access to resources is not controlled by a central entity such as a server.
Normally, when information is sent from
computer A to computer B, the received information would be intact and
accurate, while there will be a notification sent to computer A. The transfer
of information does not necessarily be between individuals, it could be between
groups as well. Not only information, the P2P also allows individuals to
exchange currencies that are not created by a central banking authority.
In a way, it enables individuals to move currencies from their accounts to the account of others without having to go through a financial institution as it only relies on digital transfers, which means the availability of an internet connection. Therefore, this allows individuals to use computers as well as mobile devices, such as tablets and phones to get their transaction done.
The use of the peer to peer network;
The use of peer-to-peer networks is to share
resources and help computers, provide specific services, or execute specific
tasks. P2P is also used to share all kinds of computing resources such as processing
power, network bandwidth, or disk storage space. The most common use case for
peer-to-peer networks is the sharing of files on the internet.
Now
it’s time for the types of peer to peer network and they are;
- Structured P2P
network – formed on the principle of hierarchy with the use of distributed
hash table or DHT. This variant is suitable for scientific or large organizations
where all computer devices are constantly connected to a network the
Internet. This allows you to easily find any data and download it as
quickly as possible, while the system itself does not suffer from a large
number of devices that are connected to it;
- Unstructured
P2P network – formed without a hierarchy, and each PC will connect to the nearest
peer-to-peer node if it has the data the user needs. The network will be
filled with requests, and the connection will take place to those nodes
that respond;
- Hybrid
P2P network – a combination of unstructured and structured network, using
the same data as well as terminology. Such a network can compromise
between the two types to take maximum advantage of each;
- Torrents
– unique Bit Torrent P2P technology for efficient search and download of
necessary files. One torrent file has a full data index, so it quickly
connects to the p2P client and brings together online users. In other
words, the download is done jointly.
How Does The File Exchange
Peering Network Work
Peer-to-peer network works in this way:
- The
client program sends to the network a list of files that are available for
download from the computer by other client programs, as well as a list of
files that the program wants to receive;
- Then a
search is made for clients who need certain files and those programs which
have them;
- Direct
communication is established between the two groups of computers through
work programs and file exchange is performed;
- Each
file is broken down into small parts – packages;
- The
information is uploaded to the computer in this fragmented form;
There are some risk also while exchanging files over p2p networks so,
Risk of Exchanging Files over P2P Networks
are;
- The
real IP address is shown
When a connection to a
peer-to-peer network occurs, the IP is always visible. If you use torrent or
are on a large platform, hundreds and thousands of peers can see it;
- The file
may have an unknown origin
It is important to always check where the file is downloaded from, who
created the torrent, and which protocols are on the sharing platform. If not
always possible, then it is better to check all files with an antivirus
software;
- Risk of
spyware or malware
It is very easy to come across
viruses and malware through a peer-to-peer connection, so it is important to
consider this fact.
Hence this peer to peer network is very popular in 21st
century for the data transmission and connection between computers.
