Peer-to-Peer Computing: Systems, Concepts and Characteristics

Peer-to-peer is a technology concept applied at different levels of the systems architecture. Its main characteristics are direct interaction and data exchange between peer systems. It is the basis for decentralised distributed computing. The concept is widely deployed in different contexts and no formal definition exists. This paper gives an overview of the different areas peer-to-peer technology is used and introduces the main characteristics of peer-to-peer systems. It also discusses the issues and problems encountered when deploying peer-to-peer technology.