Peer-to-Peer Communication

• Peer-to-peer communication is also called P2P and P-TO-P communication.
• Peer-to-peer (P2P) communication is carried out in a decentralized communications model in which each device has the same capabilities, permissions and either device can initiate a communication session.
• Unlike the client/server or centralized model, in which the client makes a service request and the server fulfills the request.
• The P2P communication allows each device to function as both a client and server, no devices in a peer-to-peer communication model are designated to act solely to serve or to receive data.
• Each connected device has the same rights as its “peers” and can be used for the same purposes.

• Most P2P communications are focused on media, file sharing, and data processing.
• Peer-to-peer communications happen within the P2P network that does not involve a large number of devices, usually 12 or less than 12.
• It is common in a small office environment where each PC acts as an independent workstation for storing data on its hard drive but can share this data with all the other devices on the network.
• Peer-to-peer communication requires specialized software which allows resource sharing among the peered network.
• In peer-to-peer communication, it is very difficult to secure the data because each node is independent and can act as a server also therefore there is a constant threat of attack.
• Lack of any central server, there is always a chance that data can get lost because of no backup.