Although in general, the concept of web based file sharing can be directed towards the use of 1 click FTP or HTTP file downloading, however, only the FTP allows uploading since the HTTP version is strictly downloading.

Along came the P2P and bit torrent file sharing protocols. The P2P network was the first to arrive on the scene, but unfortunately it was still a centralized file sharing network. Napster was one of these networks in which a server handles the storing of a file for others to download.

Following the P2P’s centralized network was the decentralization by the bit torrent protocol. But this was not enough for many people as their internet connection may not be fast enough for the download of a file. In response, a PHP based web server application was developed to allow someone to turn a high bandwidth server into their bit torrent client and once the file was downloaded, they could simply access it via FTP.

When this web based bit torrent client application was released, it did not have a sufficient amount of extras, so many people would make their own hacks. These hacks included the changing of lines of code as well as adding lines of code to the base PHP script. Although this issue would become overwhelming as people would add more hacks, they would also have to maintain logs of changes so they could do future hacks as well.

In response to all these issues involved with literally hacking the lines of PHP code, another person sat down and rewrote the entire install program to utilize all off the more popular hacks to this web based bit torrent client application.

This does not mean in any way shape or form that the web based bit torrent client is an attempt to recentralize the file sharing networks, but rather aide in the faster transfer of files amongst its peers. A user who has a dial-up connection, can install this bit torrent client application on a free hosted web server that offers PHP and databases, and once the download is complete, they can access it via FTP, which on some connections may be a sufficient amount faster that their standard dial-up access.

One of the major downfalls though, is the fact that using a server to download torrents of a dubious nature can make you more visible. Of course the number one reason some may opt for this selection though is not for their personal speed capabilities, but for the throttling that their ISP may do to their bit torrent connections. However you decide to access the bit torrent network, just remember that some files may be under copyright and therefore one must take into account the possibility of getting caught with pirated intellectual data.

Popularity: 77% [?]

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Popularity: 8% [?]

The eDonkey P2P file sharing network began quite simply as a first generation server-client-protocol network, but became eDonkey2000 as part of its decentralization process. It no longer uses a centralized service as it did in the past, but unlike Napster who stayed centralized as a pay service, eDonkey became a totally different machine.

When eDonkey first began, it was sponsored by the MetaMachine Corporation who has since gone out of business, but the network still remains as a proprietary freeware based network that still runs on the original protocol developed by the MetaMachine Corporation. eDonkey2000 is a C++ based file sharing client application which was slightly modified from its original form to accommodate the decentralization process. The original server set-up used a closed-source C coded program that was developed by Lugdunum. Although the network is decentralized, it still utilizes its own servers to store the meta data much like the bit torrent indexing servers do.

Basically, the major difference between eDonkey and bit torrent, is that unlike bit torrent which you can get the .torrent file almost anywhere, the eDonkey network requires their tracker to be on their servers. Likewise, rather than the clients themselves making independent connections to each other autonomously, with the eDonkey Network, your client program first contacts the server who in turn will match your client up with another. All of the eDonkey file sharing is done in this “shaking hands” mannerism which basically requires the use of the servers.

Although it may be considered to be decentralized, the fact of the matter is that due to the necessity to shake hands with an eDonkey2000 server, it still falls under the first generation of file sharing networks, and may even be considered an out-dated technology by many. Unlike the bit torrent network, with eDonkey there is absolutely no privacy what-so-ever. Since each client has to shake hands with a server, these servers can then keep logs of all the clients around the world, as well as what files they have requested and what files they have completely downloaded.

Although eDonkey has a fairly good following that comes by means of many years of devoted users, eventually, due to the requirement to shake hands, their network will eventually disintegrate into an oblivion. eDonkey is considered by many to offer competition to the bit torrent network, but in reality, there is no competition because the number of users around the world is no where near being closely matched.

The truth is, that the bit torrent file sharing network is the largest community in the world. With literally hundreds of millions of users world-wide, this network is considered by many internet service providers to take up a large chunk of the world internet bandwidth usage.

Popularity: 6% [?]

The beginning of the MUTE peer to peer file sharing network was similar to many others. At first, during the process testing, they had set up 11 nodes to their network. Once the nodes were set-up, they then added a node at one end that contained their test file, while at the same time they added another node at the other end which would be the downloading node. Once the connection had been established between the downloader and the source node, they then added 2 more nodes to each end making the network even bigger. Then the true test was in the bottle neck possibilities of the network, where they then removed several of the original 11 nodes to see if the connection would stay active. It did, and so the MUTE peer to peer file sharing network was born and released to the world.

In basic form, the MUTE peer to peer file sharing network requires master nodes which direct the traffic on both ends of the node, this helps reduce the possibility of a bottle neck in the file sharing network. When using MUTE, after you first start up the program, it searches for the master node and makes a connection, once this connection is made, your application basically has access to the entire network. When you search for a file, that search request is then sent to the master node who in turn sends it to all the nodes it is attached to, as well as any other master nodes. This search is forwarded to all ends of the network until all the copies of the file are found. As each master node gets responses from their nodes, the responses are then slowly added to your search list. It is this reason why after you start a search, it takes a while for all the files to show up in the search screen.

One must keep in mind though, that this is still a decentralized network as these master nodes are not servers that contain the files, they are basically routers whose sole intention is to keep the traffic of connections running smoothly so that there is no bottle neck. Bottle necks are bad, as when one occurs, is can completely disable almost all traffic from passing from one peer to another. By having these redundant master nodes that act as “certain peers are more than equal” the network can stay strong and allow the continuous download of a file without an issue.

The longer your application is connected to the network, and the higher the bandwidth that your connection has, the better chances you have at becoming a master node if another node is shut down, or if more people connect to the network through you.

MUTE is a third generation peer to peer file sharing protocol and is still in use.

Popularity: 3% [?]

It was Bram Cohen who came up with the concept of the bit torrent protocol in 2001. Even today, with all the various torrent client software available, everyone has heard of the bit torrent. The reason for this, is that Bram Cohen’s company is called BitTorrent and is also the holder of the intellectual rights o the bit torrent protocol used by many of the P2P client programs available today.

The goal, was to create a means to distribute large amounts of data without the original data distributor having to pay for the entire expense of hosting a website to get traffic as well as use bandwidth to allow your visitors to download the data. Another goal was to also increase redundancy as well as reduce the burden of the original distributor. It was a success. The creation of the bit torrent protocol, now allows anyone to be a distributor regardless of your income or financial standings. When you offer your data in the form of a torrent file, others can download directly from your computer, placing the bandwidth usage on the ISP and not your own. Then, once another person has the complete file, and a third person comes along, they can download from both computers simultaneously.

The goal is the same with any type of torrent software, They are all built with the basic bit torrent protocol in mind, but can literally be on any programming platform. There are some that are developed on Python and C++ as well as Visual Basic and more.

Regardless of the software platform used to build your bit torrent software, the basic bit torrent protocol remains the same. It allows you to connect with other bit torrent users, even if they are utilizing a different client. If you already have a bit torrent client and have already downloaded a file, then you may have noticed your “Peers” section which will show you all the computers that your computer is currently connected to. Some clients will even tell you which bit torrent client software your “peers” are using as well as they may even show you the flag of the country in which that particular IP address belongs to.

The bit torrent client is no where near being fully developed. They are undergoing changes almost on a monthly basis. As each new bug get uncovered, an update is released. It is very important to maintain your up dates. On top of all of this, you may wonder how it can still be in development even though you have a non-beta version already installed on your computer. The reason is simple. Unlike Windows who has been around for well over 10 years, the bit torrent protocol has been around for a fairly short time. The shortness of time that the bit torrent protocol has been in existence, coupled with the ever increasing pressure from ISPs and copyright authorities, the bit torrent protocol is in an ever-adapting form that is constantly changing as each new problem arises.

Popularity: 2% [?]