In this paper, we study the application of random network coding in peer-to-peer
(P2P) networks. The system we analyze is based on a prototype called Avalanche proposed in
Network Coding for Large Scale Content Distribution (C. Gkantsidis and P. Rodriguez) for large scale content distribution on such networks. We present the necessary techniques for
analyzing the system and show that random network coding provides the system with both maximum
bandwidth efficiency and robustness. We also point out that the model for random network coding
in P2P networks is very different from the one that has been studied extensively in the literature.