Real-Life Examples of Peer-to-Peer Networks

📚 Quick Study Guide

• 🔗 A peer-to-peer (P2P) network is a decentralized network where devices (peers) share resources directly without a central server.
• 📦 Key characteristics: Resource sharing, decentralized control, scalability, and fault tolerance.
• 🎵 Examples include:
  • 🎧 File Sharing (e.g., BitTorrent)
  • 🪙 Cryptocurrencies (e.g., Bitcoin)
  • 📞 VoIP Applications (e.g., Skype)
  • 🤝 Collaboration Platforms (e.g., some distributed project management tools)
• 🔑 Advantages: Cost-effective, robust, and potentially more private.
• ⚠️ Disadvantages: Security risks, copyright issues, and scalability limitations in some cases.

Practice Quiz

1. Which of the following is a defining characteristic of a peer-to-peer (P2P) network?
   1. Centralized server control
   2. Decentralized resource sharing
   3. Limited scalability
   4. Single point of failure
2. Which of the following applications is a common example of a P2P network in action?
   1. Client-server web browsing
   2. BitTorrent for file sharing
   3. Traditional email systems
   4. Cloud storage with a central provider
3. What is a primary advantage of using P2P networks?
   1. Enhanced centralized security
   2. Cost-effectiveness due to lack of central infrastructure
   3. Simplified regulatory compliance
   4. Guaranteed high performance under heavy load
4. Which of the following is a potential disadvantage of P2P networks?
   1. High infrastructure costs
   2. Increased vulnerability to security threats
   3. Reliance on a single server
   4. Limited user control
5. In the context of cryptocurrencies, what role does P2P networking play?
   1. It validates transactions through a central authority.
   2. It distributes the blockchain ledger across multiple nodes.
   3. It manages user accounts on a central server.
   4. It controls the supply of the cryptocurrency.
6. How do VoIP applications like Skype utilize P2P technology?
   1. To route calls through a central telephone exchange.
   2. To directly connect users for voice and video communication.
   3. To store user data on a centralized server.
   4. To manage billing and subscription services.
7. Which aspect of P2P networks contributes to their robustness?
   1. Centralized management
   2. Redundancy through distributed nodes
   3. Single point of entry for security
   4. Dependence on a high-bandwidth central server