Note: this text document can be used to help spread Gnutella. E-mail this document
to your friends with your host cache file as an attachment; so they can get connected
easily and join the revolution.
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UPDATED: 8/24/00
WHAT'S NEW IN THIS UPDATE:
Too many Non-sharing hosts will kill Gnutella within 4 months.
more reviews of gnutella clones
additional host servers
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Too many Non-sharing hosts.
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There are just too many Gnutella users out there that are not sharing files.
Users of Gnotella 0.73 can confirm this easily. This condition will be the death
of the Gnutella protocol. This network will only stay alive and grow if people
are sharing files. If at least 50% of the users of Gnutella do not share at
least 15 files each, I predict that Gnutella will be essentially dead within
4 months.
If you download something from the Gnutella Network, you are morally obligated
to share that file and a few other files you may have, that may be of interest
to other users.
I recommend that users interested in keeping Gnutella alive, do the following:
keep your computer online, running Gnutella while you are at school or work
or while you are sleeping. Do this at least 2 nights a week, and if you have
a large number of files, rotate them; share different files on different days.
Users of Gnotella 0.73 can help eliminate the "Leaches" by sorting your host
caches by number of files, and removing all the hosts that are not sharing any
files, forcing them to go elsewhere. After a few days of not being able to get
connections, I'm sure they'll start to get the message.
THE FUTURE OF GNUTELLA IS IN YOUR HANDS, DON'T LET IT DIE.
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REVIEWS OF GNUTELLA CLONES
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N-TELLA
N-tella 1.2b (Beta) seems to be a good Gnutella clone for the large numbers of
"Napster Refugees" who seek ease of use; are not interested in adjustable settings,
and do not care about the inner workings of the Gnutella Protocol. It features a
decent looking screen, easy to use features and pleasant graphics. It allows you
to transfer files easily with virtually no knowledge of Gnutella required.
N-tella's host cache cannot be read by using the Word Pad feature of Windows, and
is not interchangeable with GnUtella or GnOtella. The name of the host cache; if
you wish to copy it: is "hosts.nut" it is located in c:\program files\n-tella.
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GNOTELLA 0.73
GnOtella 0.73; seems to be the logical choice for users of the old GnUtella 0.56;
it operates pretty much the same but has some outstanding features that boost it's
reliability and functionality; such as being able to limit the number of incoming
hosts and uploads; in order to prevent swamping. There are many settings that
GnOtella 0.73 allows you to change, for those who have the knowledge and the
inclination to tinker and tweak.
For whatever reason; users of GnOtella 0.73 seem to be messing with the default
TTL (Time To Live) this setting adjusts the number of times a packet will be allowed
to travel before being cancelled. I have seen many users set it to the maximum 255.
With the large influx of new users this setting should be left at the default
setting of 5. Allowing packets to remain active for only 5 "jumps"; setting it
any higher than 7; seems to clog the network with packets that far outlive their
usefulness, and obviously slow down the network for everyone.
GnOtella's host cache, in case you want to make copies of it, is called
"gnotella.net" and is located in the standard location of:
C:\program files\gnotella (depending where you tell it to install)
Both the GnOtella and GnUtella host caches appear to be interchangeable.
(just change the file names and put them in the proper folders)
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Gnewtella 0.593
Seems to be the most reliable of the clones for long term sharing. I have been able
to keep it running continuosly for upwards of 20 hours. Gnewtella's reliability has
to do with it's automatic host cache management. When the host cache fills up to about
850 hosts, it automatically removes the 500 oldest hosts. This eliminates inactive
hosts and keeps your host cache full of current hosts. Obviously, The Gnutella
network is not a "fixed" set of hosts, but a constantly shifting organization of
hosts; this clone certainly takes this fact into account, with successful results.
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LEGAL STUFF: (Protecting yourself)
With the future demise of Napster and with it:all other Central Server Based
FTP's (based on precedent set in Napster's case); the RIAA and other entertainment
industry leaders are going to be seeking new targets for lawsuits. If they don't
at least try to fight the free distribution of their products, they will likely
go out of business (or close to it) within 3 years. The entertainment industry
is literally fighting for it's life right now, and must spend enormous amounts
of money trying to defend it's interests.
The most likely targets of these future lawsuits will involve the creators of
programs like Gnutella; trying to hold the creators of these programs responsible
for their use in alleged copyright infringement. Needless to say: if you create
software like Gnutella: incorporate yourself or go through extreme lengths to
remain anonymous.
The second most likely targets of these future lawsuits will involve the users of
programs like gnutella. Specifically those who present themselves as large
attractive targets; ie: Those Users who are STUPID ENOUGH to share LARGE AMOUNTS
of "allegedly" pirated software (of any type) ALL AT ONE TIME. Use your common
sense.
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Visit Gnutella at: www.gnutella.wego.com
--------------------------------------------
Learn more and download the official Gnutella software or one of the many fine Clones.
--------------------------------------------
This article was originally written for Gnutella Version 0.56 (official) but much of
the information contained here is applicable to the newer Gnutella Clones.
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Support the Revolution: Spread Gnutella
>>Remove the "middlemen" from the information equation, and free the Internet<<
-Freedom of Speech = Freedom of the Internet-
--------------------------------------------
Getting Gnutella Connected and running, and some helpful hints.
=====================================================
Chapter 1
Getting Gnutella running
=====================================================
1A. Make sure you are connected to the Internet through your Internet service provider.
(Important: I the future, After you find a host; if you attempt to run Gnutella without
first connecting to the Internet, your "gnutellaNet Host Catcher" will be completely
cleared out; and you will need to find a host again.)
2A. configure Gnutella for your system (especially "Save New files to" this is the
directory where your downloads are going) "Path(s) to files" are the directories that
you are sharing/putting online for others to download. Be sure to enter all the file
extensions you are making available in those directories; in the box marked "Search
Extensions" list all the types of files you wish to share; separate each file type
by a semicolon. Example: "mp3;zip;url;exe;div" (do not add the quotation marks (") )
3A. open Gnutella and get on the "gnutellaNet" screen. Enter ONE of the following lines
into the text box to the right of the "Remove" and "Add" buttons.
gnet2.ath.cx
gnet3.ath.cx
gnet4.ath.cx
gnet5.ath.cx
hosts.clip2.com
gnutellahosts.com
After entering one of those lines, hit the "Add" button. Wait at least 2 minutes, if the
first line doesn't get you connected try the others.
If you still can not get connected; you need to do the following:
Additional Instructions:
1B. Locate the Gnutella program files on your hard drive. they will probably be in...
C:\program files\gnutella
2B. locate a file in this directory called "gnutella.net" This is the file that
holds your Host catcher list (IP/Host list)
3B. delete "gnutella.net" in directory "C:\program files\gnutella" (or where ever
they are in your computer)
4B. take the file attached to this E-mail "gnutella.net" and copy it onto the
directory you deleted your original "gnutella.net" from.
5B. Run Gnutella again, it will connect if you did everything correctly; and if the
IP's in the file are "up to date"
===================================================
Chapter 2
Helpful Hints:
===================================================
1. After you get connected, make a copy of your "gnutella.net" file, and save it in
another directory or on a floppy disk, in case you accidently clear your host catcher.
Then replace the cleared file with the one you saved.
2. Make copies of your "gnutella.net" file at least once a week, because it changes
over time (inactive and bad hosts get cleared out and replaced by New and better hosts;
somewhat automatically)
3. While Gnutella is running and connected to hosts, observe the "Info S,R,D" column
above the "gnutellaNet Connections:" you will see the host number listed in the first
column, the type of connection in the second column (Incoming/Outgoing), in the last
column, you will see a set 3 of numbers separated by commas, that constantly change.
These numbers refer to Packets (pieces of files and other information) the first
number is Packets Sent, the second is Packets Received, the third is Packets
Dropped. If a particular host is appears to be "Dropping" a lot of packets (more
than 100 in two minutes), remove that host by highlighting the host and then
hitting the remove button. Gnutella will automatically search for another host
to replace the one you removed. Hosts that "Drop" a large number of packets,
are bad hosts, and waste everyone's time. (enough Dropped packets will result
in one or more file transfer errors) and slow down the network for everyone.
It is in everyone's best interest to remove (disconnect) bad hosts.
4. If you have a dial-up modem (works over regular phone lines) do not connect to
anymore than 2 (two) hosts at a time. if you have a faster connection (DSL, Cable,
T1, T3) connect to 4 (four) hosts or more, depending on your speed. Connecting to
too many hosts will slow down your file transfers.
5. The "Get More" button on the "gnutellaNet" screen will fill up your host catcher
with active hosts (Only when you are connected)
6. Tell as many people about Gnutella as possible. The more people using Gnutella,
the more files you will be able to find on it. As more people get on Gnutella;
newer, better versions of Gnutella will be released.
7. Download as much as you want; but Make sure you share AT LEAST 10-15 files on
Gnutella, even if someone else is sharing the file. The person sharing the
file may not be online when you are (and vice versa); a file shared by several
people makes it more likely to be online at any given time; obviously increasing
it's availability.
8. Sharing More files, attracts more users who stay online longer and bring new
files with them; resulting in more files available to everyone. This is the whole
idea.
9. DO NOT download VBS files (Visual Basis Script) which is any file that has a
".vbs" extension. Any file that has a .VBS extension is most likely a virus.
(98% chance) These files were probably shared by some sick individual(s) and/or
people from the Music and/or Commercial Software industry (in order to make
people afraid of getting viruses while downloading Music and Software using
Gnutella.) It is probably a good idea to scan all files (except .txt and .mp3)
for viruses before you open them. NOTE: .vbs files are automatically executed
(opened) as soon as they complete downloading; so don't even download it...be
careful when you select files for download, LOOK at what you click on people.
10. Test all files/music/software before sharing it on the Gnutella network and be
reasonably sure that it works. Don't waste other people's time, and slow down the
network by sharing software that doesn't work. NOTE: this also means that you should
keep separate directories for Downloads and Uploads.
11. Rename .zip , .exe and other files that are not self explanatory. Rename the
files to include a brief description of what the file contains. People are not
likely to download a file if they don't know what it is. Example:
original file name: "zonalarm"
renamed to: "zonalarm_(Internet Firewall-Protects your computer against online Hackers)"
or
original file name: "pk270wsp"
renamed to: "Pk270wsp (A good No Frills version of ZIP file Compression & decompression)"
===================================================
Chapter 3
How Governments enforce laws, and how that affects the average Gnutella user.
===================================================
No Law Enforcement Agency in the world is given enough funding or manpower to
enforce 100% of the laws, 100% of the time. Each Government has to decide which
of it's laws to enforce, how much to enforce them, and when to enforce them.
All governments make these decisions based on certain criteria. These criteria are
mostly related to preserving the health, safety, welfare, financial interests,
and moral codes of the majority of those governed. Law enforcement agencies are
forced to concentrate their resources on those criminal activities that negatively
affect wide segments of society; to a great enough degree.
SIMPLY PUT: You can get away with a lot of things if most people don't really
care about those things.
HOWEVER: Doing bad things, that greatly upset large numbers of people; will
get the F.B.I. (or your country's equivalent) on your Butt in a hurry; and
they will spare no expense to put you in jail.
Here is a list of bad things that tend to greatly upset large numbers of people:
1. Sharing, Downloading, or circulating Child Pornography.
2. Spamming (unsolicited bulk E-mailing)
3. Sharing/Displaying EXTREMELY LARGE amounts of pirated software ALL AT ONE TIME.
4. Sharing, Downloading, or using Software tools designed specifically to launch
Malicious Hacker attacks, or spread viruses. Especially on Computers and Networks
that deal with:
(A.) The National Security of a large powerful country (Such as: The United States
of America, or it's allies)
(B.) Finance or Commerce (Banks, and Large Corporations)
(C.) Mass Communications (E-mail, Television, Cable, Radio, Telephone)
(D.) Any other computer or network, that if crashed by a hacker or virus; would
greatly upset large numbers of people.
===================================================
Chapter 4
Some Words to the Wise
===================================================
Just because Gnutella as a whole, cannot be shut down; does not mean that individuals
cannot go to jail or get Sued individually.
Gnutella is about Freedom of the Internet; With Freedom comes responsibility. (and
the need for common sense)
Don't abuse your individual freedom, or it will be taken away from you. This is
true in any society.
mise à jour : 6 jan 2001 |