> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://cardano-course.gitbook.io/cardano-course/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://cardano-course.gitbook.io/cardano-course/handbook/module-4-peer-to-peer-p2p-networking.md).

# Module 4. Peer-to-peer (P2P) networking

* Through automatic P2P, registered nodes can discover and establish connections with each other
* Nodes can establish full-duplex connections, operating simultaneously as servers and clients for the mini-protocols
* Nodes can maintain certain static topologies, including their own relays and block producers, as well as trusted peers with which continuous connections are desired
* Root peers can be reloaded using the SIGHUP signal, eliminating the need for a restart
* The node can dynamically manage the connections, each node maintains a set of peers mapped into three categories:

  * **cold peers** ‒ existing (known) peers without an established network connection
  * **warm peers** ‒ peers with an established bearer connection, which is only used for network measurements without implementing any of the node-to-node mini-protocols (not active)
  * **hot peers** ‒ peers that have a connection, which is being used by all three node-to-node mini-protocols (active peers)

  Newly discovered peers are initially added to the cold peer set. The P2P governor is then responsible for peer connection management.
* Maintaining diversity in hop distances contributes to better block distribution times across the globally distributed network
* In the case of adversarial behavior, the peer can be immediately demoted from the hot, warm, or cold sets

Upstream peers are classified into three categories: known, established, and active.

<figure><img src="/files/MCE43UiihoHiNoSJYWdP" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

### What is next?

* Peer sharing
* Ouroboros Genesis release

[Peer-to-peer (P2P) networking](https://docs.cardano.org/explore-cardano/cardano-network/p2p-networking)

[Interview with the networking team lead](https://youtu.be/wnv7VCa79eo)

### The P2P topology file

#### The new P2P topology file format (please use it with node v.1.35.6 and later):

{% embed url="[input-output-hk/cardano-node#4559](https://github.com/input-output-hk/cardano-node/issues/4559)" %}

#### Example of a topology file for a node not involved in block production or block propagation:

```
{
   "localRoots":[
      {
         "accessPoints":[
            
         ],
         "advertise":false,
         "valency":1
      }
   ],
   "publicRoots":[
      {
         "accessPoints":[
            {
               "address":"relays-new.cardano-mainnet.iohk.io",
               "port":3001
            }
         ],
         "advertise":false
      }
   ],
   "useLedgerAfterSlot":322000
}
```

#### Example of topology files for a stake pool

The block-producing node includes its own relays (`x.x.x.x` and `y.y.y.y`) under local roots. Note that the example uses `"useLedgerAfterSlot": -1` to indicate that it should never use `LedgerPeers`.

```
{
   "localRoots":[
      {
         "accessPoints":[
            {
               "address":"x.x.x.x",
               "port":3000
            },
            {
               "address":"y.y.y.y",
               "port":3000
            }
         ],
         "advertise":false,
         "valency":1
      }
   ],
   "publicRoots":[
      {
         "accessPoints":[
            
         ],
         "advertise":false
      }
   ],
   "useLedgerAfterSlot":-1
}
```

The relay `x.x.x.x` includes its own block-producing node (`z.z.z.z`), the other relay (`y.y.y.y`) under local roots, and a few other root peers under public roots. Note that this time, the example does use LedgerPeers - `"useLedgerAfterSlot": 10000000`.

```
{
   "localRoots":[
      {
         "accessPoints":[
            {
               "address":"z.z.z.z",
               "port":3000
            },
            {
               "address":"y.y.y.y",
               "port":3000
            }
         ],
         "advertise":false,
         "valency":1
      }
   ],
   "publicRoots":[
      {
         "accessPoints":[
            {
               "address":"relays-new.cardano-mainnet.iohk.io",
               "port":3001
            }
         ],
         "advertise":false
      }
   ],
   "useLedgerAfterSlot":322000
}
```

### Configuring the node to use P2P

You can enable P2P from the configuration file. For example, in the preview testnet [configuration file](https://book.world.dev.cardano.org/environments/preview/config.json), you will find the field `EnableP2P`, which can be set to either `false` or `true`.

On the preview testnet, the default is `true` since this network is already running with P2P. You will also need to configure the target number of *active*, *established* and *known* peers, together with the target number of *root* peers:

<pre><code>{
...
<strong>  "EnableP2P": true,
</strong>...
  "TargetNumberOfActivePeers": 20,
  "TargetNumberOfEstablishedPeers": 40,
  "TargetNumberOfKnownPeers": 100,
  "TargetNumberOfRootPeers": 100,
}
</code></pre>