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p2p networks and programs
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First-generation networks:
First-generation networks were of the centralized server-based type. This
means that a client had to connect to a specific server (or one of a number
of servers) that were run by the individual or company that set up the
network. The advantage was that, as could be seen with the famous
Audiogalaxy network, the server could be employed to maintain a global list
of files available on the network at any current time.
However, the
centralized-server concept turned out to be vulnerable to legal action by
the content industry: to close down the server, or the company that ran it,
meant to close down the network, as could be seen by the cases of Napster
and Audiogalaxy.
The only first-generation network of note that is still
around is Soulseek.
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Second-generation networks:
Second-generation networks are the most common type, although the
development of third-generation networks is progressing rapidly. Still based
on servers, second-generation networks do away with the centralized server;
instead, client software can either have dual functions as server and client
or special server software is available to run parallel to a client.
While not as fast and comprehensive in listing available files as
first-generation networks, they are much harder to disrupt or shut down by
the content industry since there is not a single point vulnerable to attack
anymore; instead, enough users providing server infrastructure have to be
taken out to drop the number of servers below a critical mass.
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Third-generation networks:
The thing of the future. Completely serverless in the original sense, client
and server duties are merged here. With the advent of affordable broadband
connections and more powerful CPUs, clients can be expected to handle their
share of what used to be server duties (for example, maintenance and
distribution of available-file lists).
The WinMX network is one of the
earliest examples of the third-generation concept; in fact, it appeared when
second-generation was the state of the art! Most promising among the
advanced third-generation networks are those based on the XOR Kademlia
protocol.
eDonkey
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The 2nd-generation eDonkey network is famous for the amount of exotic
content. Performance (download rates and source management) is good to
excellent, depending on the client software. Several open-source clients
are available for Linux/UNIX and Windows OSs.
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G2/Shareaza
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A recently-opened-source development of the 2nd-generation Gnutella
protocol, the Shareaza, G2 or "Mike's" protocol is nonetheless vastly
improved. Content availability is good, performance is up to current
standards. Due to the network being open for only a short time, there is
only one alternative client available, discounting spyware-ridden Morpheus.
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Bittorrent
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Not a p2p file-sharing network in the strict sense, the 3rd-generation
Bittorrent protocol was developed for distributing media from clusters of
PCs rather than high-powered dedicated servers. Thus, download rates are
extremely high, but source management can sometimes be a problem.
Furthermore, exotic or 'ephemeral' content tends to drop out of the network
quickly, making Bittorrent best suited for rapid initial distribution of
data. A large number of clients are available for Windows, Linux/UNIX and
Mac OS.
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New Kademlia network ('kadMule')
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New Networks of the 3rd-generation Kademlia protocol are beginning to
appear. While the concept is not yet perfectly implemented, it shows
much promise as the leading next-generation p2p protocol. The client is
based on Windows-only eMule and can utilize both the eDonkey and its
Kademlia protocol. Source management, as mentioned, is being improved as
the user base has already exceeded that of Overnet. As of now, there
only is a Windows client.
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Overnet
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Designed as the successor to the eDonkey network, the 3rd-generation Overnet
protocol was state-of-the-art when it first appeared, but is being
superceded by newer implementations of the Kademlia algorithm. Availability
of rare content ist not as good as in eDonkey, but still OK, and performance
is up to current standards. However, the most commonly used Windows client
requires the insecure and dubious Micro$oft .Net environment; an alternative
client, however, is also available, both having implementing support for the
eDonkey network too.
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WinMX
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The WinMX network uses a 1st-generation host cache for startup, but runs as
a decentralized 3rd-generation network. Client development has actually
ended in late 2002, but the network still enjoys popularity because of its
(for its time) advanced features and high performance. The drawbacks are
that it is limited to a single, Windows-only client with its inherent
limitations; still, a large variety of exotic content is available.
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Gnutella
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Another worthy successor to the legendary Napster, Gnutella is a typical
2nd-generation protocol. The advantages are a higher availability of rare
content that is the case with FastTrack and the largest number of clients
available for any one network; the drawback is that the network is
technologically obsolete and often overloaded and that client performance
varies wildly.
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Soulseek
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The most notable 1st-generation network still around, Soulseek ist
technologically obsolete; downloads are limited to a single specific peer
per file. However, it is the de facto successor to the hugely successful
Audiogalaxy network, as it provides the largest selection of audio files
anywhere at this time. While not as amazing as Audiogalaxy was, it
nonetheless features fast download rates and although the bulk of files is
made up of mp3 and ogg audio, other types are frequently found. Soulseek
is the best means to acquire rare and exotic audio files for evaluation.
Non-Windows support is at the alpha stage.
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OpenNap
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An open-source 1.5th-generation development of the original Napster
protocol, OpenNap uses a FTP server-like infrastructure. Is techologically
obsolete but still boasts a sizable user base. The main advantages is the
availability of rare content, mostly audio, on dedicated servers.
Performance and user friendlyness is below current standards, however.
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FastTrack
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FastTrack was and still is the network with the largest user base, being
typical in performance for a 2nd-generation network and often providing high
transfer rates. Unfortunately, availability of exotic content is
comparatively low, as FastTrack is swamped with Hollywood blockbuster
screeners, Britney Spears CD rips, fakes and virii. Additionally, most
FastTrack clients rely on notoriously buggy Micro$oft Internet Explorer
components, leaving users vulnerable to malware and exploits. The official
clients for this proprietary network (KaZaA, iMesh, Grokster) come bundled
with spyware and time-stealing components and should never be
employed.
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Supported networks |
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eMule
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An open-source development of the original eDonkey client, eMule boasts a
large number of additional features that improve performance. Even more
features are available in modded versions and spin-off clients. The most
comprehensive sources for eMule mods is X.E.M.;
eMules.de has some additional rare mods.These pages are in
German, but their layout is intuitive and mod descriptions are usually in
English. eMule accepts ed2k links.
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MLDonkey
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etc
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In face of the attempts to re-engineer eMule for Linux/UNIX and Mac not
really progressing (the Windows code is hopelessly cluttered), MLDonkey
still is the defacto eDonkey client for these OSs. It suffers from
compatibility issues with obsolete server software and has taken a different
way of development than eMule. On the other hand, multi-network capabilities
are being constantly extended, with support for Soulseek, DirectConnect and
OpenNap networks in alpha/beta stadium. As it is a typical Linux program
with seperate GUI, it is recommended for advanced users; MLDonkey is
generally considered to be the finest multi-network p2p application
available. MLDonkey accepts ed2k, magnet, sig2dat links and BT torrents.
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aMule
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A further development of lMule which itself was the successor to xMule,
aMule ('another Mule') seems to be the long-awaited eMule lookalike for
non-Microsoft OSs. As the original eMule code proved impossible to port, it
was completely reengineered to result in a software which is technically
totally different, but provides the same look-and-feel as known from eMule.
Like eMule, aMule is compatible with ed2k links.
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Bittorrent
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The Bittorrent client is written in python, so it can run on a wide
range of operating systems out-of-the-box. You link starter files to
your browser, click on a link and Bittorrent opens a download window (see HowTo).
Most people prefer a
variety of mods over the official client. These provide nicer GUIs and
sometimes more functionality. Good Bittorrent mods are
Shadow,
BT++,
ABC and the Java-based
Azureus.
Torrents are the starter files for Bittorrent.
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Kademlia/
Overnet clients
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Both Kademlia-based third-generation networks are currently tied to the
eDonkey network. The first implementation of the protocol is accessed with
the Overnet-eDonkey Hybrid
(Windows only) or MLDonkey.
An eMule hybrid client is currently being
developed under Windows using an improved protocol and already heavily
improved by modding. Kademlia-eMule hybrid clients can be recognized by a
version number larger than 0.40 and are found on the mod pages listed under eMule. All Kademlia-compatible
clients accept ed2k links.
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Shareaza
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Shareaza uses its native G2 protocol, which has an amazingly large user base
given that it the algorithms have only recently been made available.
Non-Windows user would have to resort to MLDonkey to use the G2 network.
Shareaza is a stylish (some would say baroque) client in Windows XP
look-n-feel. Despite that, the G2 protocol is much better than its
precedessor Gnutella. Shareaza is currently not available for improvement by
modding. Torrent files, ed2k and magnet links are accepted by Shareaza.
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FastTrack clients
 
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FastTrack clients suffer from a notorious association with spyware, malware
and other hazardous -ware. The advantage is the large user base and the fact
that files of interest can be spread via links using the no-spyware mods
KaZaA Lite
(magnet links) and
iMesh Light
(sig2dat links).
Other clients should be considered armed and dangerous and shot on sight,
and even with the 'Lites', you better keep firewall and virus protection
current.
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WinMX
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Despite frequent rumors, it appears as if no further version of this veteran
filesharing client will be out soon. The user base is still high, if not too
many files are downloaded at one time performance is fine and genre stuff
may be picked up on an OpenNap server. Besides, WinMX accepts mxlinks.
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Gnutella clients
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There is a
plethora
of Gnutella clients around; several are
Open Source
while BearShare,
XoloX
and Java-based multiplatform
LimeWire
can accept magnet links. Except that, there's not really much to say except
that a change of client is often the difference between satisfying download
and none at all.
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Soulseek
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Soulseek is a mystery in itself; the concept of server-based filesharing
would seem to have disappeared except for this old-school network-client
combo. The situation is the same as with Shareaza, the non-Windows client
being MLDonkey (alpha only). It is still the best for non-mainstream audio
needs, so we mention it here because we like the network.
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Freenet
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Project Freenet is a completely different way of distributing files. It
utilizes an encrypted section of your disk for storing a bit of its file
base. Requested files get collected from the various computers on which
they're located, so this is really like a highly secure, anonymous FTP
network. Freenet is accessed via your web browser; file lists are located on
index pages.
Frost
is a Java-based multi-OS file-sharing application for
Freenet,
MacFreenet
a Mac-only frontend.
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