 | Level: Introductory Todd Sundsted (todd-p2p@etcee.com), Chief Architect, PointFire, Inc.
18 Jan 2002 Welcome to The practice of peer-to-peer computing, a regular column on developerWorks Java technology zone that focuses on the promise of P2P computing. All of the articles, beginning with the first, are presented here for your convenience.
IP Multicast-based discovery
January 2002
Level: Intermediate
In his last article, Todd described several different mechanisms that peers can use to discover one another and explained the strengths and weaknesses of each. This month, he provides an implementation of discovery based on IP Multicast.
Discovery
November 2001
Level: Introductory
To accomplish useful work, peers in a P2P application must be able to find and interact with one another. In his continuing examination of P2P computing, Todd Sundsted describes several ways to accomplish this task -- called discovery -- and the relative strengths and weaknesses of each.
P2P meets SSL
October 2001
Level: Intermediate
A core requirement of any non-trivial P2P application is secure communication between peers. While the details of the security depend on how the application will be used and on what it will protect, it's often possible to implement strong, general-purpose security using off-the-shelf technology such as SSL. This month, Todd Sundsted demonstrates how to use SSL (via JSSE) in P2P security.
Trust and security in peer-to-peer networks
July 2001
Level: Introductory
As soon as a P2P application grows to the point where it becomes interesting, the issues of trust and security appear on the horizon. Trust and security are seldom problems in small applications where every user knows every other user. Useful P2P applications seldom remain that small, however. This month, Java architect Todd Sundsted explores issues of trust and security in P2P applications, and introduces you to the tools that make trust possible in distributed applications.
The P2P application framework
May 2001
Level: Introductory
The best way to understand the technical side of P2P computing is to examine a real P2P application. This month, Todd Sundsted takes you on a tour of such an application. He describes how to install it, how to configure it, and how it works.
Introduction and history
March 2001
Level: Introductory
Peer-to-peer (P2P) computing promises to be the paradigm with mindshare sufficient to push a number of interesting distributed computing technologies from the shadows into the spotlight. To better understand P2P technology, Todd Sundsted begins this series with a trip back in time to the early 1980s, when the first popular P2P applications came into existence. He explains where P2P computing fits into the broader distributed computing landscape. Finally, he presents the world's simplest peer and, as a means of foreshadowing what is to come, points out its deficiencies. Armed with this information, you will be able to build your own P2P applications in the Java programming language or adapt specific techniques to your own programming ends.
About the author | | | Todd Sundsted has been writing programs since computers became available in desktop models. Though originally interested in building distributed applications in C++, Todd moved on to the Java programming language when it became the obvious choice for that sort of thing. In addition to writing, Todd is cofounder and chief architect of PointFire, Inc. Contact Todd at todd-p2p@etcee.com. |
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