What is a peer to peer network?

[abennett22]

What is a per to peer network?

[NickleArse]

A direct connection between 2 computers...No Hubs or Switches involved.

[NickleArse]

more accurately...A network without a server, you CAN use hubs to connect 3 or more pc's. Each computer holds its own security database to authenticate login requests etc... Not really suitable for business use but ok at home or small office maybe. Comunication between machines with TCP/IP or Netbeui protocols.

[j2buttonsw]

Or more accurately, a workgroup network without a domain controller. Do you want to know about P2P networks like Kazaa or Napster use? You set up your PC with a front-end piece of software which allows remote users to have limited access to your hard drive without authentication. You may share only one folder on which you store files that you want to share but this is accessible to anyone.

[rahbar]

Strictly speaking, a peer to peer network is exactly as its name suggest - a group of computers sharing resources where no strict organisational structure exists. In practical terms this means that any of the computers can access resources (files, etc) on any other computer provided the computer donating resources gives permission to do so. The classic opposite of this is a 'client-server' approach, where a group of 'client' computers access resources residing on a central dedicated 'server' and do not interact with eachother. For the record, the communications and hardware used (TCP, hubs, etc.) is irrelevant - the term refers only to the topology.