Instead, when a file transfer is initiated, clients connect directly to each other (using the standard public IP network).
While the decentralization of the network prevents a simple shut-down, traffic analysis and deep packet inspection will more readily identify the traffic as P2P due to the high variable-destination packet throughput.
The large packet volume typically causes a reduction in available CPU and/or network resources usually associated with P2P traffic.
[citation needed] The Kad network supports searching of files by name and a number of secondary characteristics such as size, extension, bit-rate, and more.
Only a few major clients currently support the Kad network implementation.