A peer-to-peer network is a network that typically does not have a central file server. For example, if on your Windows® PC you have 'file and print sharing enabled', that is being directly accessed by other users on your network, this is typically known as a peer-to-peer network.

Brother printers can work in this type of environment in two ways:

1. The printer can be connected to one PC using a Parallel or USB cable and then shared, other users in the network can then access that shared printer as a resource on the network. The disadvantage to working this way is that the PC sharing the printer must be switched on at all times.
2. By installing an optional print server ( if applicable for your model ) and by using the Brother peer-to-peer printing software, network users can send print jobs directly to the printer from their PC.