Peer-to-Peer Advantages

Peer-to-peer networks have advantages that all come from one feature: there is no central server. Every computer is an equal peer, and each one can share its own resources and use resources shared by the others.

Cheap and simple to set up

With no server, you do not buy server hardware or server software, so the cost is low. You connect the computers and switch on file and printer sharing on each one. No specialist network manager is needed: someone who is comfortable using the computers can set it up. A school robotics club running four laptops in a design technology room could share a folder of robot design files stored on Amara's laptop and send jobs to a 3D printer plugged into Jonah's laptop, without buying a server or paying an expert.

No central computer to rely on

Because no server runs the sharing, there is no central server whose failure would stop all sharing. If Amara's laptop is switched off, the other three still work and can still use the 3D printer and swap files between themselves. Only the design files on Amara's laptop become unavailable. Each peer shares directly, so the club can begin sharing files and its 3D printer with the equipment it already owns.