WinMX causes unintentional leeching

[ston]

Some P2P networks limit trading to just MP3's. That I can understand. It makes sense by not cluttering their network with additional filetypes which could slow down and interfere with the primary goal of trading MP3's. (Edonkey is a good example of what can happen with mixed filetypes. So many movies and full-CD games are being traded on ED that it is very hard to get a mp3 or any other small file because it will likely get queued behind huge 700 MB files and take hours or days to start download.) Win MX is neither a "media-files-only" P2P nor an "all file types" P2P. But by trying to be both at once, it accomplishes neither very well.

WinMX has such a horrible implementation of filetype sharing that does nothing but hurt the filesharing community. By default settings, it allows downloading of all file types but restricts uploading to media filetypes only. This only encourages unintentional leeching, because it is so easy to forget to perform the complicated process of having to manually edit the shared filetypes settings and add the file extension of every single filetype downloaded. And most users don't even know how to change the default settings for shared filetypes

Most of my shared files, even mp3 collections are in archive formats (like .zip .tar and .rar) I was getting very tired of having to message the uploader and explain to each of them how to share these filetypes so that my files will continue to spread. This has caused me to stop sharing files that I know will probably never get shared past the next user.

The people behind WinMX need to change its default settings to allow every filetype that can be downloaded to also be shared. The default setup just encourages massive unintentional leeching.

[eclectica]

Not only is this a problem with WinMX, but a similar problem exists on those who are running SlavaNap servers, which are a variation of OpenNap. It's hard to find zip files or unknown file types such as wsx files on SlavaNap servers unless the owners changed the defaults.

If you want to see what type of "OpenNap" server is running (whether it's SlavaNap or OpenNap), right click on it to view the server messages.

[ston]

I found this notice in the server messages in NecessaryEvil server:

Due to RIAA notice, this server NO LONGER can share, search, or browse sound recordings. If you see you are sharing 0, this is why. If you get no search results, or browse results, this is why.

Perhaps other servers are also blocking certain filetypes.

[eclectica]

Check out the server message of WorldMusic (salsa.no-ip.com:4567). It looks like they're control freaks. And you can see too that few file types are being shared because there is a large amount of files but a small amount of total gigabytes.

[ston]

Check out the server message of WorldMusic (salsa.no-ip.com:4567). It looks like they're control freaks. And you can see too that few file types are being shared because there is a large amount of files but a small amount of total gigabytes.
I tried to read the server message, but can not even get logged in. (no wonder NapMX does not list it)

[buzz_ny]

Well, WinMX defaults also save a lot of newbies from accidentally sharing the contents of entire their hard drive. (Kazaa, anyone?) This is much better.

I think it's great, the features and default settings are what a thoughtful user would put them at to balance the user's security and the network's functioning.

[ston]

The fact is that currently the vast majority of people downloading non-media filetypes ARE LEECHES and something needs to be done about this.

Well, WinMX defaults also save a lot of newbies from accidentally sharing the contents of entire their hard drive. (Kazaa, anyone?) If it is a matter of which is more important:

A. making it completely idiot proof for a tiny minoriity at the expense of the majority of users by having the newbies leech by default rather than risk them sharing personal files by accident,

OR

B. Benefit the majority of users by allowing all files that get downloaded to also be shared by default, cutting down on leeching.

One solution that would satisfy both A and B is to share all filetypes by default in the download folder only and allow selective filetypes for the rest of the drive.

[mrgone4662]

Originally posted by ston
The fact is that currently the vast majority of people downloading non-media filetypes ARE LEECHES and something needs to be done about this.

What information exactly are you basing this on? People downloading non-media files must be getting them from someone and they must have got them from somewhere.

[nutty_squirrel02]

Originally posted by ston
The fact is that currently the vast majority of people downloading non-media filetypes ARE LEECHES and something needs to be done about this.

If it is a matter of which is more important:

A. making it completely idiot proof for a tiny minoriity at the expense of the majority of users by having the newbies leech by default rather than risk them sharing personal files by accident,

OR

B. Benefit the majority of users by allowing all files that get downloaded to also be shared by default, cutting down on leeching.

One solution that would satisfy both A and B is to share all filetypes by default in the download folder only and allow selective filetypes for the rest of the drive.

I agree with that, the defaults should share the zip files and stuff like that. Users who share their whole drive without knowing it are, well, dumb. It only takes a dumb user to select C and click ok and not know about. I just noticed today that I was not sharing my zip files and exe's and stuff. I thought I was but realised it was not the defaults, after reading this thread.

I say they should of thought better about the defaults when they released it.
I also think that a good option would be to have seperate queues for different file types. Users could make a "profile" of what file types go in what queue, that way, you can put txt and other small files in one profile, then the mp3s alone in one, and the big stuff on an other, that way someone downloading a txt file that is 298 bytes would not have to wait until 2GB of data has been transfered to 3 people downloading a movie. I just put numbers of a situation I made up but it shows that with that system, queing would go better.

Actually, this version is the first where I actually get queues, usually I hardly had any users. Must be all the Jackass episodes I got when I had KaZaA working for a few hours, until it crashed again.

[eclectica]

Here's the server message on WorldMusic. They can also be found on port 8888.

http://members.bellatlantic.net/~vze2fwz4/WorldMusic.jpg

[psychotronic420]

eclectica

They don't even have enough content to even bother with, and unfortunately the administrator of the server has the right to set whatever rules that they feel are needed for their server to operate smoothly even if that means alienating users, there are a lot more server admins that are even worse out there, it might be worth bothering with if they had some really rare content that you couldn't get anywhere else, just use one of the many user friendly servers out in cyberspace.

[eclectica]

You've got a good point psycho. I think setting minimal filesharing requirements has its good intentions, but it unfairly weeds out those who are sharing rare files. It is much better to have a person sharing a few rare files on your network than one who shares tons of Led Zeppelin, Beatles, or Bob Dylan files.

This particular server WorldMusic is only working about 30% of the time. Maybe rather than concentrating on filtering out certain members and clients, they should be focused on keeping their server up and running most of the time.

[InspectorGadget]

To maintain stability it reboots every 6-12 hours??? LOL I'd hate to see what unstable would be like, probably win me or something.

[eclectica]

I have little respect for servers which are only operational when the owner is checking his e-mail or cruising the internet.

[Caitlyn Marble]

I also think that a good option would be to have seperate queues for different file types. Users could make a "profile" of what file types go in what queue, that way, you can put txt and other small files in one profile, then the mp3s alone in one, and the big stuff on an other, that way someone downloading a txt file that is 298 bytes would not have to wait until 2GB of data has been transfered to 3 people downloading a movie. I just put numbers of a situation I made up but it shows that with that system, queing would go better.

I agree with this as I have a ton of rare mp3's and also a bunch of hard to find mpeg's and I usually get a long queued line of people just wanting a 3 megabyte song and others who want a 900 megabyte movie. This way is better since people wouldn't get so frustrated since they know they are in a line of mp3's and that they dont have 10 users waiting to download harry potter in front of them.