What is P2P?

P2P stands for Peer-to-Peer. P2P networks are different from server-based networks, such as web sites and email. When you read a web page you download web (HTML), image, and other files from the web server to your computer. When you receive email you transfer the mail from an email server that stores the mail.

In a P2P network user computers are directly connected to one another. There is no server involved. You search and download files directly from other users who may be home users or business servers. Instant Messaging (IM) is a form of P2P.

The power of P2P is the huge decentralized network created when thousands of computers are connected. Such a network can contain millions of files and terabytes of video, music, photo, and other data. The network uses the existing disk storage, CPU time, and Internet connection bandwidth users already have with their PC's and Internet Service Provider accounts. The network is spread out over the Internet. If there's a server outage or network interruption, a P2P network is relatively unaffected, unlike a server that all users depend on. Napster popularized P2P file sharing.

P2PFiles bridges the P2P network and the Web. When you run a P2P search from our web page, your inquiry is sent directly to other users on the P2P network. When you download a file from P2PFiles, you transfer it directly from another user on the network through your software, such as TrustyFiles.

Learn more about P2P and Gnutella.