What is Peer-to-Peer (P2P)?
A definition for P2P isn't easy to pin down.
Common characteristics:
- Nodes are aware of other nodes.
- Peers create a virtual nework that overlays the physical network (despite firewalls, subnets, etc).
- Each node is capable of acting as either client or server or both.
- Peers form working communities of data and application logic - peer groups.
- Makes network interactions more symmetrical.
What P2P isn't:
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A strategy to eliminate servers.
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Centralization vs. Decentralization.
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