Peer-to-Peer Computing and Grid Computing: towards a better understanding

Abstract

Currently, both Peer-to-Peer Computing (P2P) and Grid Computing have remained the most vibrant and useful forms of distributed computing all over the world. Their applications are such that they cut across both academia and industry. It has come to the notice of researchers that there are great misunderstanding and misinterpretation on what these forms of distributed computing actually portend and stand for. In this paper therefore, we take a critical look at comparative study of both computing technologies with aim of making readers understand in a clear cut what each really stands for. To have a good comparison, we start by giving a well referenced definition of Grid Computing as well as Peer-to-Peer Computing. Also, we used technical issues and general features in our comparison vis-à-vis the architecture, security issue, data movement, application deployment, and operating system requirement. We also considered the strength of both distributed computing system and finally we considered what could be the future of both technologies.