A peer-to-peer network derives its name from the topology of the network. In such a network topology, all networked machines are neither clients nor servers, they are instead peers (both clients AND servers). Historically, during the ARPANET days, all networks were designed to be peer-to-peer (P2P). In a peer-to-peer network, any machine on the network can communicate directly with any other machine on the network without requiring an intermediary to help exchange the data.