Just like to comment on Gnutella...

[MusicMan]

In my opinion, I think everyone should start to shift towards the Gnutella Network. As we all know (but don't like to admit) the FastTrack protocol is coming to an end, and OpenNap servers aren't as longlasting. Our only true way of keeping file-sharing in it's prime stages is if we embrace the open-source Gnutella Network, filling it with users and new clients. As it should be known, the Gnutella Network is the only network that is excpected to last up against an onslaught of angry RIAA and MPAA members. Any comments?

[Vladd44]

I think gnutella is resolving alot of issues that have kept it from reaching its potential a year or so ago. Supernodes etc have greatly improved scalability. The advent of multi source d/ls have also given the protocol a much needed boost.

But the big problem is 70+% of gnutella users share no files, and studies have shown that over 90% of the files come from less than 10% of the users. Those statistics leave people like myself that share at least 35gigs (or more) vulnerable to legal reprisals. Alot easier for the riaa or miaa to put pressure on 5-10% of gnutella users than on the userbase as a whole. If everyone was sharing, this would not be as big of a problem, safety in numbers, but a few big fish can really stand out at an ethiopian convention.

I think it is imperative that the major gnutella clients do everything they can to encourage users to share. By allowing people to designate a preference of u/l slots for users sharing vs leeches.

Also the lack of ability to instant message users (and to browse what they are sharing) are features that discourage a feeling of community. But the gnutella scene has come a long way, and I look forward to other improvements that those like John Marshall are providing for the community.

And yes fasttrack is dead, it just hasnt had the decency to close its eyes and lie down. Their current management is going to run it into the ground. the BS fiasco, SUBSCRIPTION???? got 2b kidding.

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[MusicMan]

In fact I read one fact that said like 80% of all files shared on every network come from the top 20% users of gnutella, that's not very many people sharing. There should be some sort of limit of files that people must share, or at least a percentage of what they have.

[Sephiroth]

Originally posted by MusicMan544
In fact I read one fact that said like 80% of all files shared on every network come from the top 20% users of gnutella, that's not very many people sharing. There should be some sort of limit of files that people must share, or at least a percentage of what they have.

That was made back in a report over a year ago.. The network has grown a tremendous amount from then. The main problems in the past was internet browsers using gnutella web searches and were leeching content off of the network. All the web searches today are different in that users can allow them which they arent used alot anyways. So they dont have much of an effect as the ones in the past did. I wouldnt worry that much about sharing until a new study comes out giving more updated info if one ever does.

What gnutella needs in order to survive isnt this ideal of a 100% open source non-commerical open network . Gnutella needs to grow as a network be able to support a large number of users which is happening with ultrapeers. Then things like searching, download, uploads need to be made more efficent and fast and will probably be the next step. But whats most important is that people need to realize that gnutella is more than just file sharing and that other applications of gnutella ought to be explored so its more than just a file sharing network.

As for the RIAA onslaught. Its rumored that the RIAA has been monitoring the network for over a year. Also its rumored that someone has been spamming the network with false queryhits which is why some programs started to cluster their programs together on the network. I think that many users expected the RIAA to come in and start sueing programs like with the other centralized programs but that probably wont happen.

[BloodySabbath]

Originally posted by MusicMan544
There should be some sort of limit of files that people must share, or at least a percentage of what they have.

I agree, it does seem necessary to implemet some anit-freeloading measures into gnutella clients... perhaps a combination of the AudioGalaxy method (if you dont share at least x amount of files, you can only have one simultaneous download) with the eDonkey/LimeWire method (the less bandwidth you allow for uploading, the less bandwidth you can use for downloading)

[MusicMan]

Actually there are a lot of Open Nap servers out there that already disconnect people if they aren't sharing atleast some files. Other programs should try to adopt this method.

[Shannon57662]

Originally posted by Sephiroth


That was made back in a report over a year ago.. The network has grown a tremendous amount from then.

I agree I know I personally share more now then I did a year ago(When I only had a dial up connection). I think as more people get broadband more people will share their files.

[Foreverboard]

I think it great. and it can only get better.

[Niels72351]

I don't like the direct connect way, with hubs requiring you too share a amount of data, the best hubs demanding 50 GB. Becuase that only leads to the rich getting richer ...

what if you don´t have a large HD or superfast broadband, or if you only want to share mp3's not huge sw and movie files....



/Niels If i sign up again, i get rid of those numbers right?