Topology and resource discovery in peer-to-peer overlay networks

Abstract

Peer-to-Peer networks have attracted significant attention these days. The paper firstly introduce the characteristics and challenges of P2P networks and then surveys four categories of P2P topologies: centralized topology, decentralized unstructured topology, decentralized structured topology and partially decentralized topology. The characteristics, advantages and disadvantages and current researches of the four topologies are discussed. Many open problems and their recent developments are analyzed thoroughly. © Springer-Verlag 2004.