What is K-bucket

Communication in computer networks can be organized in two different ways, according to the client/ server model and the peer-to-peer model (Spinellis & Androutsellis-Theotokis, 2004). In the client/server model, the network is centralized. There is one host on the network, the server, which provides services to its clients. Its network address is usually well-known. On the other hand, in the peer-to-peer model, there is no central point in the network. Hosts participating are sometimes called “servents” (Gnutella, 2006), as they act both as servers and as clients at the same time: they provide services to other servents, while they also use the services of others. Nodes in unstructured peer-to-peer networks usually communicate via message flooding. For example, a search request for a given file in the Gnutella network is sent to all neighboring servents. However, this solution is not scalable, and it generates a lot of unnecessary network traffic.