Peer-to-Peer Networks

How to connect end systems to edge router?

• Residential access nets
• Institutional access networks (school, company)
• Mobile access networks

Characteristics:

• Bandwidth (bits per second) of access network.
• Shared or dedicated

The access networks are the physical link(s) that connect an end system to its edge router.The figure shows the access networks' links highlighted in thick, shaded lines.
Access networks can be loosely divided into three categories:

• Residential access networks, connecting a home end system into thenetwork.
• Institutional access networks, connecting an end system in business or educational institution into the network.
• Mobile access networks, connecting a mobile end system into the network.

These categories are not hard and fast; some corporate end systems may well use the access network technology that we ascribe to residential access networks, and vice versa.