• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Technipages

Smart phone, gadget and computer tutorials

  • Topics
    • Android
    • Gaming
    • Hardware
    • Internet
    • iOS
    • MacOS
    • Office
    • Software
    • Windows
    • Definitions
  • Product Reviews
  • Downloads
  • About

Gnutella

Posted on August 16, 2019 by Mel Hawthorne

Gnutella is the name of an application and communications protocol that is used for Internet file sharing. More specifically, it uses peer-to-peer file sharing similar to the way Napster handles these connections. Most users share MP3 files with other users – unfortunately, often illegally obtained files. Regardless of the source of files, Gnutella operates a little differently from Napster, in that it does not rely on a central enterprise maintaining the service.

 

Technipages Explains Gnutella

Not being run via a central server means that the program is less vulnerable to lawsuits and complaints from outside sources. These outside sources are most often copyright holders, publishing firms and even the Recording Industry Association of America, the RIAA. Sharing illegally obtained or copied files certainly violates usage terms and even copyright law, however, as networks formed through Gnutella form and disband at a moment’s notice, based on the users and without central coordination, there is little copyright holders can do.

There are, however, also negative sides to it – Gnutella is relatively inefficient, and its protocols don’t manage to maintain speeds when network traffic increases. Searching for files and exchanging them slows down considerably, and overall performance suffers. Despite this, many users still favour it over Napster as its decentralised nature provides advantages to the users in terms of anonymity and safety. Gnutella has millions of users and actually made history in that it was the first decentralised peer-to-peer network to emerge on the market.

After first being made available in 2000, it is still in use. There are, of course, competing programs as well, such as Napster, LimeWire, and also utorrent and several others. Peaking around 2007, Gnutella held around 40% of the market share when it came to p2p file sharing.

 

Common Uses of Gnutella

  • Gnutella is similar to LimeWire and Napster in that it allows peer to peer file sharing.
  • Once the world’s most popular p2p sharing system, Gnutella is decentralised, making it superior to services like Napster.
  • Despite its popularity, Gnutella has several shortcomings, particularly in relation to providing and maintaining services at decent speeds.

Common Misuses of Gnutella

  • Gnutella is part of the open-source project GNU.

Primary Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • Can’t Connect to Google Play? Try These Useful Tips
  • How to Fix Zoom Error Code 614
  • Google Duo on Android: How To Enable Low-Light Mode
  • Troubleshooting Zoom Error 3065
  • How to Fix Microsoft Teams Error caa82ee2
  • Zoom: How to Change the Size of the Text in Chat Windows
  • Slack: How To Change Your Display Name
  • WhatsApp: How to Hide Your Profile Picture from a Specific Contact

Who’s Behind Technipages?

Baby and Daddy My name is Mitch Bartlett. I've been working in technology for over 20 years in a wide range of tech jobs from Tech Support to Software Testing. I started this site as a technical guide for myself and it has grown into what I hope is a useful reference for all.

Follow me on Twitter, or visit my personal blog.

You May Also Like

© Copyright 2021 Technipages · All Rights Reserved · Privacy