Messenger Client to Client Socket Communication (Not via Server)

[Olga Flasza]

Hi, I need to make a messenger where a client can communicate with another client directly.. (not via the server)

i.e any client can communicate with any other client privately just like yahoo messenger

there are lots of example of server/client pair socket communication & this is not what i am looking for

so i am puzzled how to do that.. do i need to make each user both client & server or what??

please help..

[Kai Witte]

Hello,

technically there always is a client and a server when TCP is used. Conceptually anything is possible that doesn't conflict with that (central server, no central server, direct connection after server mediated contact, ...).

Kai

[Olga Flasza]

Hello Kai, Thanks for your answer. but as you may assume I am a novice in networking.. can you please give some link from where I can start..
I am mainly interested about no central server part

Thanks in advance

[Kai Witte]

Networking basics

TCP

TCP with Java

I don't know about a source that sums up communication concepts without a central server. The existing concepts are all very different.