A method, apparatus, and system are directed toward overlaying a cluster of nodes over peers in a peer-to-peer network using a peer identification and communication mechanism. A string based name for a resource in a peer-to-peer network is received and is used to generate a unique identifier using a secure hash algorithm. An advertisement specifying at least one address associated with the resource is associated with the unique identifier. The advertisement is broadcasted. The unique identifier and/or the resource in the peer-to-peer network is associated with a resource in the cluster. A network packet may be addressed to the resource in the cluster by the unique identifier. The network packet may be routed to the address associated with the resource in the cluster using an Open System Interconnection (OSI) Level 2 or above protocol.