Tuesday, December 11, 2012

P2P File Sharing

Peer-To-Peer (or P2P) file sharing is the technology that allows for users (peers) to distribute files directly amongst each other. Where as traditional file sharing involves getting a file from a server or some other intermediary, P2P cuts out the middle man.

One such P2P file sharing software is BitTorrent. Designed by Bram Cohen and based off a design for a "distributed data haven" (http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/13.01/bittorrent.html), BitTorret allows for a file to be shared collectively. Instead of sending the file whole, BitTorrent works by " Breaking a big file into tiny pieces", downloading a small piece from a bunch of different users, simultaneously. These downloads run in parallel, making the process much speedier. Additionally, the relatively slow upload speeds of even fast internet connections are no longer a bottleneck, since each individual "peer" is responsible for far less. This was the case with other P2P networks, such as Kazaa, and as a result, BitTorret took the lead as the preferred P2P file sharing software.

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