How the DHT protocol works ? Are my thoughts correct?

Question

Im trying to understand how the DHT protocol works, specially on the file-sharing-torrent world. I read many articles, but im still confused with the filename-value hash generation.

My thoughs how the dht works are the following: Lets say im joining a p2p network and i want to share some files. For these files, hashmap keys are generated and "traveled" through the network until the nodes who are responsible for these generated keys are accessed. Then each of these nodes add in his list a record that says "the guy with the x IP address has the file that is related with the specified key.

When i search for a file, the hashmap key is generated for this file and travels the network until the node responsible for this key is found. Then this node is communicates with me and send me the IP addresses for the nodes that hosts the real data

Are my thoughs above correct??

Answer 1

Your thoughts are correct. This is the general idea behind DHT's.