"P2P Systems and Applications" is a course for M.Sc. and diploma students of Electrical Engineering (and related study programs). It is held as a combination of a lecture (TUCaN-no. 18-sm-2110-vl) and exercises (TUCaN-no. 18-sm-2110-ue).

The course organized in parallel to "Peer-to-Peer II - Methods" (18-sm-2190) for B.Sc. and M.Sc. students of Computer Science.

Course Description

Fully distributed systems, typically termed Peer-to-peer (P2P) systems, seem to be of much more interest these days, especially moving from a pure file sharing use to a more commercial use and application. While the more traditional Client/Server (C/S) system belongs clearly to the distributed system, many new applications tend to prefer in certain cases a P2P-based approach. This lecture on "Peer-to-Peer Systems and Applications" outlines the major technology alternatives of P2P, introduces overlay networks, analyzes key P2P features, checks on implementation and deployability aspects, and investigates on scalability, efficiency, reliability, and commercial applicability. Search schemes, security mechanisms, and wireless use of P2P systems complete the overall P2P view. Based on a number of sample P2P systems the huge potential of them is outlined and applied in a challenge task in practical exercises. Students will get a deep insight into Peer-to-Peer systems and applications. In this context, the lecture will cover fully distributed communication paradigms to describe and evaluate alternative approaches to the client-server model. By means of basic concepts and approaches the students will learn, in which way the Peer-to-Peer (P2P) paradigm shows benefits as well as drawbacks in specific environments.

Literature

Textbooks as indicated:

• Ralf Steinmetz, Klaus Wehrle (Eds): Peer-to-Peer Systems and Applications, Lecture Notes on Computer Science Volume 3485, Springer Publishing, ISBN: 3-540-29192-X. The book can be accessed online from within the TUD network

• Slides and paper copies as necessary.

Requirements

Basic courses of the first 4 semesters are required. Knowledge of lectures Communication Networks I and II are recommended.

Resources

The lab material will be made available using the Moodle platform:

FB18 - PS - Peer-to-Peer Systems and Applications (SS 2013)

The Moodle course requires a password that will be announced during the first lecture.