|
In an industry that reinvents itself every few months, to find the latest innovation in computer networking, one needs only to look at the topology that served as the original blueprint for the Internet over 30 years ago. Peer-to-peer (P2P) networking is not a new concept, although, judging by the recent attention it is receiving, one may wonder, ?Where has it been all these years?? It is the legally contested, online music-sharing service Napster that opened the eyes of IT managers and network administrators everywhere. Napster demonstrated the power of P2P networking and many big-name companies are buying into it. Patrick Gelsinger, vice president and chief technology officer of Intel Corporation, likened the potential impact of P2P technology to the effect that Web browsers had on the initial development of the Internet. The potential benefits of P2P computing are so great that Intel, IBM, Hewlett-Packard, and Fujitsu PC, along with several start-ups, have recently established the P2P Working Group. The goal of the P2P Working Group is to ?facilitate and accelerate the advancement? of technology. "There are very fundamental issues that need to be addressed,? says Gelsinger, adding that the group aims to resolve standards, security, reliability, and other issues.
Bob Knighten, P2P evangelist of Intel, states, ?Peer-to-peer computing is the natural self-organizing complement to the centralized organization of client/server computing.? Peer networking is not trying to reinvent the wheel. The technology helps people to collaborate with others to exchange information and to efficiently use the processing power of their network. P2P tools will not replace the client/server infrastructure, but will complement its use for activities that are not easily translated into client/server-based solutions. P2P architecture has far-reaching potential, with no foreseeable end to its possible applications for both consumers and the realm of big business. Higher bandwidths, cheaper storage, and more powerful desktop processors are transforming P2P network solutions.
Five P2P models currently dominate the direction of this technology:
Atomistic: Pure P2P, no server is present in direct client-to-client (node-to-node) connection.
User-centered: A directory provides a way for users to connect with one another on a network.
Data-centered: Users can search and access data held on other users? systems.
Web Mk 2: The aforementioned models integrate with ?Web architectures and infrastructure.? Directory services and indexes allow users admission to data on either servers or clients, accessible by a browser-supported workspace.
Computer-centered: The processing of any given application is divided between client and server, with a server handling coordination of the task. Nodes are held on the Internet and can be easily accessed.
|
Threaded Mode