educative.io

What exactly is P2P architecture?

Courses
,
#1

Please elaborate with examples.

Course: https://www.educative.io/courses/network-fundamentals
Lesson: Educative: Interactive Courses for Software Developers

#2

Hi @srinivas_reddy_thumm !!
Peer-to-Peer (P2P) architecture is a decentralized network structure where computers, referred to as peers, communicate and share resources directly with each other without the need for a centralized server or intermediary. In P2P networks, every peer is both a client and a server, capable of both requesting and providing resources to other peers in the network. This contrasts with the traditional client-server model, where clients make requests to a central server, and the server responds with the requested resources.

Key characteristics of P2P architecture:

  1. Decentralization: P2P networks do not rely on a central server to coordinate communication. Peers communicate directly with each other, creating a distributed and decentralized system.

  2. Resource Sharing: Peers in a P2P network can share various types of resources, including files, processing power, bandwidth, or even services.

  3. Scalability: P2P networks can easily scale as more peers join. Each new peer contributes resources to the network, making it more robust and capable of handling increased demands.

  4. Redundancy: P2P networks often have redundancy built-in. If one peer goes offline or becomes unavailable, other peers can still access the shared resources through alternate paths.

  5. Self-Organization: P2P networks can self-organize and adapt to changes. Peers can discover and connect to other peers dynamically.

  6. Examples: Some common examples of P2P applications include file-sharing networks like BitTorrent, voice over IP (VoIP) applications like Skype, and blockchain networks like Bitcoin.

Example: BitTorrent

BitTorrent is one of the most well-known examples of a P2P application. Here’s how it works:

  • Seeder: A user who has the complete file (e.g., a movie) and is willing to share it with others becomes a seeder. The seeder initially has the entire file.

  • Leecher: A user who wants to download the file but does not have the complete file yet is called a leecher.

  • Swarm: The group of all peers (seeders and leechers) sharing a particular file forms a swarm.

In BitTorrent:

  1. A leecher requests different parts (called “pieces”) of the file from multiple seeders and other leechers in the same swarm.

  2. As the leecher downloads pieces, it also uploads those pieces to other leechers. This sharing continues until the leecher has the entire file.

  3. Once a leecher has the complete file, it can continue to upload pieces to other leechers, becoming a seeder and contributing to the network’s distribution.

BitTorrent’s P2P architecture allows for efficient and fast file sharing because it distributes the load across multiple peers, reducing the burden on any single server. It also benefits from scalability, as more users join the swarm, making downloads faster as the number of seeders increases.

In summary, P2P architecture is characterized by decentralized, direct peer-to-peer communication, making it suitable for various applications where resource sharing and scalability are essential, such as file sharing, VoIP, and blockchain technology.
I hope it helps. Happy Learning :blush: