Apple's Bonjour Networking Technology

Peer-to-peer (P2P) networking on Apple’s Mac OS X is achieved through a feature called Bonjour (originally called Rendezvous). Though developed by Apple, BonJour is based on Internet standards, such as the IETF’s Zeroconf protocol (for creating networks without previous configuration or special network services) and the Multicast DNS standard, which it uses to resolve node names and the types of services (printing, file sharing, games) that are available over a P2P network.

Bonjour works over both wired and wireless networks, and is built into Apple’s AirPort wireless base stations. Other Apple products that use Bonjour include the Safari Web browser (for locating devices such as routers or printers on a local network), iChat instant messaging application, and iTunes and iPhoto applications for sharing music and images over a P2P network.

Bonjour compatibility has been built into printers from Brother, Canon, Epson, Hewlett-Packard, Lexmark, and Xerox, making it easier for Bonjour users to discover and use printers on their networks. It is also used by the Skype Voice-over-IP service to locate other users on a local network, by TiVo personal video recorders, and by Trillian instant-messaging software.