The phrase “peer-to-peer” refers to a network in which its resources are made available to all members. As a result, the system is decentralised. File sharing was one of the initial applications for peer-to-peer networks. These services would make it possible to download files directly from other users, rather than paying a central server to do so. Today, these networks have evolved and taken on a variety of shapes. In video streaming and chat apps, for example, they can be employed. This network’s basic structure is so highly sought after that many businesses are making efforts to duplicate it.
Peer-to-peer networks do not have a single point of failure, unlike centralised networks. Exactly what does that mean? This implies that when a central server fails, all of the network’s services are unavailable. Peer-to-peer networks, by contrast, have a built-in redundancy that ensures that if one node fails, the network will continue to function. In a P2P network, two or more computers are linked together without the use of a dedicated server.
These computers’ data transfer is managed by a professional person. As a result, the client and server communicate with each other and the network as a whole. If you have two or more computers and need to access information stored on all of them, this strategy is a common one.
Drawbacks of P2P networks
Remote Access Problems
It is possible for unwanted remote access to occur if the network has unsecured code or another programming. If an unauthorised person has access to sensitive data or information from the firm, it might be dangerous for the company. As a result, the P2P network user may have to make do with this restriction. As a result, the user should ensure that he or she is prepared to deal with these kinds of scenarios before using the peer-to-peer system.
Performance Stagnation
As a result of the number of linked devices, peer-to-peer networking is prone to sluggish performance. To put it another way, as the number of devices linked grows, so does the performance of navigating data. Since numerous computers are connected, a peer to peer network is ineffective.
A Virus Infection May Be to Blame
Viruses and malware are more likely to infect computers that store their own data because they are more vulnerable. Both computers are vulnerable to a viral assault when one of them is infected. All users can access data on a machine that has already been infected by a virus.
There isn’t any central storage
There isn’t a single location where all of the necessary data and information can be kept. Also, the files are spread over many computers. This means that a single individual cannot be in charge of limiting who has access to what data. As a result, it might pose a number of difficulties when it comes to efficiently navigate the file. A lot of time can be wasted by the user.
