Crazy Horse
July 18th, 2002, 10:42 AM
In case the story I submitted isn't posted or you guys don't see it over at Slyck. :::
Filetopia Interview
Thursday July 18, 2002
Filetopia has been in existence for nearly the same amount of time as Napster, quietly lurking in the shadows of P2P networking. This P2P network always had the potential to burst out of its 1000+ user confines, however its centralized nature prevented it from growing to great heights like WinMX or FastTrack. With version 3.0, Filetopia hopes this network will join its supernetwork brethren. To understand the latest regarding this file-sharing community, we spoke with Enrique, the lead programmer of Filetopia.
Slyck.com: The file-sharing community has been patiently waiting for the official release of Filetopia 3.0. What's been causing the delay and when can we expect its release?
Filetopia: [The] client has been ready for several weeks now. But we are experiencing a stability problem in the chat server (other network components work fine). This was totally unexpected and is delaying the launch of 3.0. As soon as this problem is solved, 3.0 will be released.
Slyck.com: What features can we look forward to with 3.0?
Filetopia: 3.0 is almost [a] total rewrite. The main features you can expect are:
- Decentralized network: using supernodes and thematic network organizers (entry points). That will be able to scale much more than the 2.1 network.
- Multi-source downloads
- Automatic file retrieval: will be able to find the file you want automatically for you, even if it has a different name on the remote user (and resume it if it was started).
- Improved IM features.
- Better user interface.
And tons of problems (related to usability, security, etc) from the 2.1 version addressed.
Slyck.com: Explain the network architecture of 3.0. How is it different/similar to FastTrack/Gnutella?
Filetopia: It is closer to FastTrack than Gnutella. The network grows around the thematic entry points (called 1LNs): they can host users and also create supernodes (using the fastest machines with the best connections) around them as needed. They can balance users with the supernodes or with other 1LNs of the same Theme (Audio, Video, etc). Searches will travel a 1LN (if it has searches activated) and all its supernodes depending from it, if not enough results are obtained, it will move to all peer 1LNs (same theme) and their subnetworks.
A chatroom can be hosted by a 1LN, by a supernode or even by a user, making the chat also very scalable (and common to the whole network).
The IM features will have a specialized server to support them. If this server is down, the network will still work (including the chat), without some of the IM features (Friends online, Instant messages).
Slyck.com: Will Filetopia utilize a host cache server or utilize something more decentralized?
Filetopia: My concern was scalability and network efficiency as Filetopia is also an IM program. I tried to balance pure decentralization with performance. 1LNs are the only element outside the client itself that is needed for P2P, and it can be hosted by users and installed in 5 minutes. In the beta there are already 20 of these 1LNs hosted by FT users that want to contribute to the network, others are waiting for the beta to end to start their own 1LNs.
Slyck.com: Previous versions of Filetopia use strong key encryption to protect its users. If possible, could you explain this technology and will it be utilized in the upcoming version?
Filetopia: You can get a longer explanation here, in short:
All connection protocols (to send files, to connect to the network, to enter a chatroom) use public key encryption. They first create a secure communications channel exchanging public keys and using an asymmetric cipher (Elliptic curves), once this channel is stablished they use the symmetric cipher chosen by the user (RC6, AES, Blowfish, etc) to encrypt all data send and received.
A similar technique is used for secure web transactions (SSL protocol). The encryption algorithms used in Filetopia for both the symmetric and asymmetric ciphers are more modern and therefore better.
Of course, version 3.0 will not lose this.
Slyck.com: Will Filetopia 3.0 have transient chatrooms like WinMX or attempt to establish something a bit more permanent?
Filetopia: I've tested WinMx and I think the FT 3.0 chat be much better in all respects. The idea is to have a decentralized chat that looks to a user like the centralized 2.1 chat, but without the lag, of course.
Slyck.com: The music industry has leaked information that they may flood P2P networks with false files. Does this concern you and what steps, if any, is Filetopia taking to combat this?
Filetopia: If they do so, they will have to do it manually, as I doubt they can hack the protocols used in Filetopia.
If they do it manually, we will find them and ban their machines from our network, it takes any system operator just a few seconds to ban a machine once we detect it.
Slyck.com: Explain the multi-source feature. Will Filtopia use file-hashing to identify identical files?
Filetopia: All files shared are hashed using a low priority thread that is almost unnoticiable by the user.
In version 3.0 the search engine is actually 2 search engines:
One that searches files by keywords, like the one in 2.10 and another that searches files by their hash, finding equal files even if they have different names. This second search engine is also used by the program to find when a file that we want to retrieve automatically is online and get it in the background and it is also used to find more sources for a file we're downloading. Search results are grouped by sources so starting a very popular file, will make use of all sources available (and up to 6 simultaneous sources, discarding the slowest of all found).
Slyck.com: Filetopia already has a strong userbase. What are your expectations for this network? Do you feel it may grow to the size of WinMX or FastTrack?
Filetopia: Once we have a stable network that can grow as much as WinMx or FastTrack, we think we can get as many users as they have. Our main problem right now is that we don't have enough room for all the users with the centralized system.
Slyck.com: Do you feel your network is safe from the RIAA? What steps, if any have you taken in preparation in case of a lawsuit?
Filetopia: Decentralization (P2P is totally out of our control), the fact that Filetopia is not just a P2P program but a IM program also and not having any income source are what makes Filetopia less vulnerable.
Slyck.com: Filetopia has always been a spyware free client. Will this trend continue, and how do you cover your operating expenses?
Filetopia: Yes, it will continue, for the reason mentioned above and for our own beliefs.
To cover our expenses we plan to participate in other projects that could use our know-how in a more commercial system.
Slyck.com: As always, please feel free to add any additional comments...
Filetopia: I would like to say to everyone that is awaiting the next release that it will be worth it, software development has these things, unexpected problems can delay a release and make it very hard to estimate a launch date.
Filetopia, like Blubster, has resolved one of the fundamental weakness' of decentralized networks by distributing the entry point for clients. Instead of host caches, Filetopia utilizes Thematic Network Organizers, or "1LNs", which can be installed by any user. With a solid userbase of 1,000+ users, Filetopia has enough internal strength to become a major player in the P2P world. Check out Filetopia here.
Filetopia Interview
Thursday July 18, 2002
Filetopia has been in existence for nearly the same amount of time as Napster, quietly lurking in the shadows of P2P networking. This P2P network always had the potential to burst out of its 1000+ user confines, however its centralized nature prevented it from growing to great heights like WinMX or FastTrack. With version 3.0, Filetopia hopes this network will join its supernetwork brethren. To understand the latest regarding this file-sharing community, we spoke with Enrique, the lead programmer of Filetopia.
Slyck.com: The file-sharing community has been patiently waiting for the official release of Filetopia 3.0. What's been causing the delay and when can we expect its release?
Filetopia: [The] client has been ready for several weeks now. But we are experiencing a stability problem in the chat server (other network components work fine). This was totally unexpected and is delaying the launch of 3.0. As soon as this problem is solved, 3.0 will be released.
Slyck.com: What features can we look forward to with 3.0?
Filetopia: 3.0 is almost [a] total rewrite. The main features you can expect are:
- Decentralized network: using supernodes and thematic network organizers (entry points). That will be able to scale much more than the 2.1 network.
- Multi-source downloads
- Automatic file retrieval: will be able to find the file you want automatically for you, even if it has a different name on the remote user (and resume it if it was started).
- Improved IM features.
- Better user interface.
And tons of problems (related to usability, security, etc) from the 2.1 version addressed.
Slyck.com: Explain the network architecture of 3.0. How is it different/similar to FastTrack/Gnutella?
Filetopia: It is closer to FastTrack than Gnutella. The network grows around the thematic entry points (called 1LNs): they can host users and also create supernodes (using the fastest machines with the best connections) around them as needed. They can balance users with the supernodes or with other 1LNs of the same Theme (Audio, Video, etc). Searches will travel a 1LN (if it has searches activated) and all its supernodes depending from it, if not enough results are obtained, it will move to all peer 1LNs (same theme) and their subnetworks.
A chatroom can be hosted by a 1LN, by a supernode or even by a user, making the chat also very scalable (and common to the whole network).
The IM features will have a specialized server to support them. If this server is down, the network will still work (including the chat), without some of the IM features (Friends online, Instant messages).
Slyck.com: Will Filetopia utilize a host cache server or utilize something more decentralized?
Filetopia: My concern was scalability and network efficiency as Filetopia is also an IM program. I tried to balance pure decentralization with performance. 1LNs are the only element outside the client itself that is needed for P2P, and it can be hosted by users and installed in 5 minutes. In the beta there are already 20 of these 1LNs hosted by FT users that want to contribute to the network, others are waiting for the beta to end to start their own 1LNs.
Slyck.com: Previous versions of Filetopia use strong key encryption to protect its users. If possible, could you explain this technology and will it be utilized in the upcoming version?
Filetopia: You can get a longer explanation here, in short:
All connection protocols (to send files, to connect to the network, to enter a chatroom) use public key encryption. They first create a secure communications channel exchanging public keys and using an asymmetric cipher (Elliptic curves), once this channel is stablished they use the symmetric cipher chosen by the user (RC6, AES, Blowfish, etc) to encrypt all data send and received.
A similar technique is used for secure web transactions (SSL protocol). The encryption algorithms used in Filetopia for both the symmetric and asymmetric ciphers are more modern and therefore better.
Of course, version 3.0 will not lose this.
Slyck.com: Will Filetopia 3.0 have transient chatrooms like WinMX or attempt to establish something a bit more permanent?
Filetopia: I've tested WinMx and I think the FT 3.0 chat be much better in all respects. The idea is to have a decentralized chat that looks to a user like the centralized 2.1 chat, but without the lag, of course.
Slyck.com: The music industry has leaked information that they may flood P2P networks with false files. Does this concern you and what steps, if any, is Filetopia taking to combat this?
Filetopia: If they do so, they will have to do it manually, as I doubt they can hack the protocols used in Filetopia.
If they do it manually, we will find them and ban their machines from our network, it takes any system operator just a few seconds to ban a machine once we detect it.
Slyck.com: Explain the multi-source feature. Will Filtopia use file-hashing to identify identical files?
Filetopia: All files shared are hashed using a low priority thread that is almost unnoticiable by the user.
In version 3.0 the search engine is actually 2 search engines:
One that searches files by keywords, like the one in 2.10 and another that searches files by their hash, finding equal files even if they have different names. This second search engine is also used by the program to find when a file that we want to retrieve automatically is online and get it in the background and it is also used to find more sources for a file we're downloading. Search results are grouped by sources so starting a very popular file, will make use of all sources available (and up to 6 simultaneous sources, discarding the slowest of all found).
Slyck.com: Filetopia already has a strong userbase. What are your expectations for this network? Do you feel it may grow to the size of WinMX or FastTrack?
Filetopia: Once we have a stable network that can grow as much as WinMx or FastTrack, we think we can get as many users as they have. Our main problem right now is that we don't have enough room for all the users with the centralized system.
Slyck.com: Do you feel your network is safe from the RIAA? What steps, if any have you taken in preparation in case of a lawsuit?
Filetopia: Decentralization (P2P is totally out of our control), the fact that Filetopia is not just a P2P program but a IM program also and not having any income source are what makes Filetopia less vulnerable.
Slyck.com: Filetopia has always been a spyware free client. Will this trend continue, and how do you cover your operating expenses?
Filetopia: Yes, it will continue, for the reason mentioned above and for our own beliefs.
To cover our expenses we plan to participate in other projects that could use our know-how in a more commercial system.
Slyck.com: As always, please feel free to add any additional comments...
Filetopia: I would like to say to everyone that is awaiting the next release that it will be worth it, software development has these things, unexpected problems can delay a release and make it very hard to estimate a launch date.
Filetopia, like Blubster, has resolved one of the fundamental weakness' of decentralized networks by distributing the entry point for clients. Instead of host caches, Filetopia utilizes Thematic Network Organizers, or "1LNs", which can be installed by any user. With a solid userbase of 1,000+ users, Filetopia has enough internal strength to become a major player in the P2P world. Check out Filetopia here.