A beginner’s guide to P2P
What is P2P?
A peer-to-peer (P2P) network is basically a network, the power of which lies in the computers that are connected to it rather than in a central server or anything of the kind.
P2P can theoretically be used in many ways, but the use that ineterests us here most is file transfer. Files can be transferred between computers using various techinques; I am sure you have already come across links on web sites that allowed you to download a program, a film, or whatever it was. Most probably, you have then (possibly, unknowingly) used FTP (File Transfer Protocol) or HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol). P2P is mainly used in the same purpose.
See also
What is the difference, then?
To use FTP or HTTP download, someone has to upload a file to a central server (or at least, one of the servers), from which you can download it. It means that someone has to pay for using (or buy) a server, and someone has to take constant care of it. What is more, someone may find the contents of the server illegal and sue the operator. Even if he looses the trial, the server will have to be offline for some time, anyway. Additionally, if the server becomes too popular, it may turn out that its bandwith is too low, and some users have to wait in long queues or their downloads are extremely slow.
Modern P2P networks eliminate all those problems. Computers do not connect via a server; they connect directly. This means that you do not need to upload anything anywhere. You just need to tick a folder ’shared’. Noone has to pay for using or buying a server. Noone has to take care of it. Noone can sue the operator of the server because there is no server. There is no bandwith problem because, again, there is no server.
How did it all begin?
Normally, the history of P2P is divided in three stages:
1. Napster. Created by Shawn Fanning in 1999. Napster, unlike modern P2P, used a central server. Because people used to share copyrighted material (obviously violating the copyright laws), Napster got into legal trouble. Finally, it was shut down in 2001. However, the idea remained.
2. The 2nd generation of P2P is most probably what you are going to deal with. The most important difference between the 1st and the 2nd generation is that the latter is decentralized. It has no central server, the computers connect directly and therefore there is nothing to be shut down even in case copyrighted material was shared. However, such organizations as RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) and MPAA (Motion Picture Association) undertake personal attacks against p2p users. All the most well-known p2p clients, such as eDonkey, Kazaa, iMesh, Shareaza and the like are 2nd generation p2p clients.
3. The 3rd generation is not yet well settled. Many programs claim to be absolutely anonymous and thus 100% secure. In fact, most of them are not. Anyway, in practice no 3rd generation client has a community big enough to really interest you at the moment.
What about security?
You have to be aware of the two dangers connected with using p2p software:
1. Viruses. Viruses can get you anywhere, and p2p is not an exception. Some programs perform an auto-scan of every downloaded file but most do not. In practice, you will need to run your anti-virus software more often, that is all.
2. Legal trouble. This may happen if you share or download copyrighted material. We discourage you from doing that. Organizations such as RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) and MPAA (Motion Picture Association) from time to time sue p2p users for violating copyright laws. Their mistakes (sueing people who do not have computers, non-american citizens or even dead people) are usually laughed at in public. However, they have had successes, too. Peer Guardian and the like (see e.g. here) are used to protect oneself against such actions. The best way, of course, is not to breach the copyright law.
Which one to choose?
All clients connect to networks. Choosing the right network is crucial. The time for choosing the right client will come afterwards. Here is an overview of the most important networks and their best clients (sometimes, of its worst clients, too):
See also our Network Chooser and below the table.
| Network | Info | Clients | ||||||||||||
| BitTorrent |
This is perhaps the weirdest network mankind could have invented in history. You cannot search for a file in it. You have to find a web site, from which you can download a (very little) .torrent file. The program, using this file, will be able to connect to a mini p2p network made especially for that file. Odd indeed, but the download rates can be magnificent: even over 100 KB/s. The choice is surprisingly big. |
See here a list of clients. | ||||||||||||
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Ares (Warez P2P) |
The network is actually called Ares, but since it only has two clients: Ares and Warez P2P, it is sometimes referred to as Warez P2P as well. It is a little smaller than Gnutella (around 1.000.000 users), but has a very similar efficiency and content. However, unlike Gnutella, it is not open (when you create a program, you can not connect to it for free), and so the choice of clients is very little. |
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eDonkey2000 (ed2k) |
This is the biggest network that there is. It has about 3.500.000 users. You can find almost anything there. But beware: the queues are enormous. You may have to wait for hours (sometimes, days) before the downloads actually begin. Once they begin, the rates are usually acceptable but never stunning. |
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FastTrack |
This network has become very well-known thanks to its extremely over-advertised client, Kazaa. It is big (almost 3.000.000 users) and full of fake files (an effect of RIAA and MPAA hard work). It is technically very good but the number of fake files is a major overhaul. Most FastTrack clients are loaded with adware and spyware. Lite versions recommended. |
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Gnutella |
Gnutella is a very good network. It is not very big (about 1.300.000 users), but big enough to ensure a good choice. Downloads very often begin immediately, and the rates are good. However, they hardly ever are as good as in BitTorrent. But unlike BT, it is searchable. There is a child of Gnutella’s, Gnutella2, which is quite a small network (about 150.000 users). Gnutella has perhaps the highest number of clients. |
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