Requirements to be a PEER

[Latha Kalaga]

How do I become a PEER and provide a service? What are the requirements? (JXTA framework, Connection to Internet, ...)
If I were to become a PEER and join a PEER GROUP, how do I get the code for all the services offered by that PEER GROUP?
Thanks,
Latha

[Sing Li]

Hi Latha,
I wish the answer can be simple. Under the JXTA model, a peer is a logical concept and does not necessarily map to any single machine or device. For example, it is possible to run multiple peers on the same PC. A peer in JXTA is:
- a universally unique entity
- potentially a consumer of service(s)
- potentially a provider of server(s)
- a collection of physical network endpoints that can change dynamically
This definition enables JXTA to remain generic, and not restrict the design of applications in any way.
A peergroup is a logical partitioning of peers on a JXTA network.
Since your questions are physical in nature, it is highly application dependent.
For example, if you implement specifically an all-Java P2P application that uses JXTA, you can certainly dynamically download the code for services in a peergroup.
Best Regards,
Sing Li

[Doug Wang]

Jxta starts with a prety low premise. The only assumption [Jxta makes is that] there's something that implements the protocol. So the requirements to be a PEER become a more interesting issue. To construct a Jxta network, we should have all sorts of Jxta implementations on all platform, such as PC, Mac, PDA, cellphone.... Right?