What is the Microsoft Peer Networking platform?

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The Microsoft Peer Networking Platform consists of several pieces:

  1. Graphing - This is an application layer multicast protocol. Think of a replicated database, records in this database can be enumerated,searched,added, modified and deleted. By default, there is no security built into the graphing layer, however, it has a pluggable SSP and pluggable record layer verification
  2. Security- The security layer of the Peer Networking Platform consists of self signed x.509-like certificates(other certificates can also be imported). This provides strong authentication and encryption, when used in combination with a SSP.
  3. PNRP - The Peer Networking Resolution Protcol is name resolution protocol, like DNS, that works without servers . Names can be resolved and enumerated. Names can be secured using the certificates provided by the security layer, and resolvers can be assured that the name that was found is indeed the one that owns the certificate that the name was based on.
  4. Grouping- Grouping combines the three other pieces of the Peer Networking platform. It consists of Graphing with the custom SSP + record layer verification using PNRP for resolution. A group creates a self signed certificate and signs member certificates with that certificate. Group membership is controled with certificate chains.

More details coming later!