1. P EER - TO -P EER N ETWORKS Michael Fine 1

2. W HAT ARE P EER -T O -P EER N ETWORKS ? Napster Social networking spawned from this concept. Emerged in the late 1990’s When dealing with peer-to-peer networks, the typical mind set is to believe that this type of network infrastructure was to enable users the capability of file sharing. More than just file sharing. A methodology of computer networking. Peer-to-peer is a distributed application architecture that processes tasks or work loads between service peers. Peer-to-peer system delivers services for which the participants share a portion of their own resources, such as processing power, disk storage, network bandwidth, printing. Participants are providers and consumers of services or resources simultaneously. The distributed architecture of an application in a peer-to-peer system provides enhanced scalability and service robust resources. Peer-to-peer networks are typically used with small businesses and home users, despite the many different types of networks, it is important that you implement the right one so you don’t waste your time and money on a system that is beyond the small network threshold. 2

3. C HARACTERISTICS OF P2P This contrasts with other network models, such as traditional client-servers in which the clients only consume resources that are only provided by the servers. Client-Servers vs. Peer-to-Peer No dedicated servers or hierarchy among the system of computers. Peer-to-Peer can be considered a hybrid network model. How? To keep the small business or home network design simple, you can use peer-to-peer networks to share files, printers and an Internet connection. Now to take peer-to-peer networking further, email needs to implemented to fulfill small business needs with electronic communications. 3

4. W HAT IS THE DIFFERENCE ? 4 Centralized client server based design. Peer-to-Peer Networking design

5. A DVANTAGES Sharing data loads across small network of peers. Peer = computers Cost = saving time and space Processing power Disk storage Network bandwidth Printing … simultaneously! Independent security and administration of computer systems. Ex. Incoming and outgoing shares accessed across the LAN. Small business can utilize computer workgroups. Why? Sharing files, printers, and other devices across the user connecting to a workgroup. Flexibility! Among the traditional client-server networks, P2P is ideal when going against hardware failure or traffic bottlenecks. 5

6. D ISADVANTAGES Know this before going down the peer-to-peer path… You are creating your own vulnerability and sharing you computer: Processing power Disk storage Network bandwidth Printing P2P advantages are their own disadvantage Do we live in a perfect world for independent security and administration? Malicious attacks from outside shared resources. Geographical! P2P can be worldwide and unknown Phished identity Pirated Mobility Unknown Resources You are on a public environment, the Internet! 6

7. B EST P RACTICES OF P EER - TO -P EER To avoid disadvantage follow some fundamentals of peer-to-peer networks which can relate to common sense with general computing. Home users: connect on the peer networks within their physical local network location. Avoid international resources Small business to connect to the peer network of which they create as a company. Avoid outside the workgroup Overall Do not accept unknown peer sharing invitations On P2P don’t give out personal information Require authentication for uploads Setup monitoring. Computer & Shares 7