On: Why there is no Facebook killer: the death of the ...

[hvidgaard]

That problem is partially solved by using a supernode overlay structure. It isn't particular elegant, and it relies on certain nodes being willing to work more for the network - but it can enable nodes behind a NAT to parcitipate relatively easily.

[omginternets → hvidgaard]

Sure, sure (and the tip is much appreciated), but this just goes to show that P2P is more difficult than client/server.

The point is that one has to have a very good reason to use a P2P architecture, as it tends to create problems.

[nxzero → omginternets]

Maybe it's me, but I'd assume the many-to-many is more complex that one-to-many, especially when laid on top of systems designed for one-to-many.

[omginternets → nxzero]

Good point. I was thinking of issues like peer discovery and NAT punching, but it's true that traffic topology changes as well.