A popular peer-to-peer file sharing network on the Internet. Gnutella lets users share files from user machine to user machine without the use of a central directory, which was the original Napster architecture. Numerous client programs, such as LimeWire, Morpheus, BearShare and Mutella, have been developed that incorporate the Gnutella file sharing protocol. For more information, visit www.gnutella.com.
Developed by Nullsoft/AOL
Nullsoft, makers of the popular Winamp software media player, was acquired by AOL in 1999. In 2000, the Nullsoft division released the Gnutella software on the Internet, but AOL quickly pulled the plug the next day. However, licensed under the GNU General Public License (GPL), Gnutella spread rapidly in that short time, and Gnutella clients emerged soon after. The Gnutella name is a combination of GNU from the license and the chocolate-hazelnut spread Nutella.
How Files Are Shared
Each client in a Gnutella network is also a server, and the term "servent" is the combination of server and client. When starting for the first time, each Gnutella servent requires the IP address of at least one other servent, which it can obtain from a default list of UDP host caches (UHCs) or GWebcaches. UHCs crawl the Internet looking for Gnutella hosts (servents), and GWebcache servers are updated by the Gnutella hosts themselves.
Once a servent contacts another servent, that servent tries to contact the nodes it is aware of, and the request gets forwarded throughout the Gnutella network until the request times out. High-speed, non-firewalled servents can become "ultrapeers," which can connect to 32 other ultrapeers and 30 regular servents. The ultrapeers maintain key words of the files in the servents and forward them only requests for files they are likely to have. See peer-to-peer network.
Developed by Nullsoft/AOL
Nullsoft, makers of the popular Winamp software media player, was acquired by AOL in 1999. In 2000, the Nullsoft division released the Gnutella software on the Internet, but AOL quickly pulled the plug the next day. However, licensed under the GNU General Public License (GPL), Gnutella spread rapidly in that short time, and Gnutella clients emerged soon after. The Gnutella name is a combination of GNU from the license and the chocolate-hazelnut spread Nutella.
How Files Are Shared
Each client in a Gnutella network is also a server, and the term "servent" is the combination of server and client. When starting for the first time, each Gnutella servent requires the IP address of at least one other servent, which it can obtain from a default list of UDP host caches (UHCs) or GWebcaches. UHCs crawl the Internet looking for Gnutella hosts (servents), and GWebcache servers are updated by the Gnutella hosts themselves.
Once a servent contacts another servent, that servent tries to contact the nodes it is aware of, and the request gets forwarded throughout the Gnutella network until the request times out. High-speed, non-firewalled servents can become "ultrapeers," which can connect to 32 other ultrapeers and 30 regular servents. The ultrapeers maintain key words of the files in the servents and forward them only requests for files they are likely to have. See peer-to-peer network.
 | Reproduced with permission from Computer Desktop Encyclopedia. Copyright (c) 1981-2008 The Computer Language Company Inc. All rights reserved. |
Additional Resources
- FrostWire (dmg)
- FrostWire is a fork of the very popular LimeWire PRO Gnutella/Bittorrent client. The purpose of FrostWire is to keep and maintain the freedoms that LimeWire LLC may be forced to withdraw. Share any type of file on Gnutella and the Bittorrent network.Version 4.17 iproves Bittorrent and Magnet links support.
- Software downloads 2008-07-11
- P2P Rocket (exe)
- P2P Rocket is a highly reliable file-sharing program, a truly technological triumph that you can employ to download anything you want from movies and music to games, applications and books. The installation is as quick and easy as it should be. This program supports Gnutella and eDonkey networks. P2P Rocket...
- Software downloads 2008-05-16
- FrostWire (exe)
- FrostWire is a fork of the very popular LimeWire PRO Gnutella/Bittorrent client. The purpose of FrostWire is to keep and maintain the freedoms that LimeWire LLC may be forced to withdraw. Share any type of file on Gnutella and the Bittorrent network. Version 4.13.5 fixes bugs.Note: This software comes with...
- Software downloads 2008-02-29
- Cabos (msi)
- This software application is a Gnutella file sharing program. Cabos is Gnutella file sharing program based on LimeWire and Acquisition. It is free software, no spyware, no adware. Cabos provides simple sidebar user interface, firewall to firewall transfers, proxy transfers, Universal Plug and Play, iTunes + iPod integration, and international...
- Software downloads 2008-01-09
- Shareaza (exe)
- Shareaza has unique features, including ghost ratings, a completely user-configurable queue area, and multinetwork support. The program started as a Gnutella client but recently branched out and developed Gnutella2, a completely open and documented network. Shareaza's interface is easy to use, yet powerful and fully skinnable. Shareaza's download core was...
- Software downloads 2008-01-08
- CitrixWire (exe)
- CitrixWire is a software package which enables individuals to search for and share any kind of media files with anyone on the Internet. CitrixWire is a multi-platform Gnutella client with features like auto-connect, browse host, multiple search, upload throttling, connection quality control, library management and sophisticated filtering. It is built...
- Software downloads 2008-01-02
- Acquisition (dmg)
- Acquisition is a modern, OS X-native P2P file sharing program. It provides fast downloads, easy searching, and iTunes integration for music and video downloads. This is all within a sleek and simple user interface. Acquisition supports both the Gnutella network and BitTorrent. Version 2.0v206 includes unspecified updates.
- Software downloads 2008-01-02
- Peer-to-Peer Architecture Case Study: Gnutella Network
- Despite recent excitement generated by the Peer-to-Peer (P2P) paradigm and the surprisingly rapid deployment of some P2P applications, there are few quantitative evaluations of P2P systems behavior. The open architecture, achieved scale, and self-organizing structure of the Gnutella network make it an interesting P2P architecture to study. Like most other...
- White papers 2008-01-01
- GPU (exe)
- GPU is a Gnutella client that allows users to share CPU-resources. GPU allows the creation of computer alliances. The CPU-time sharing system does not recognize privileges between users. Each person agrees to provide network resources as needed and in return is able to get CPU-cycles from other clients on the...
- Software downloads 2007-12-19
- iMesh Light (exe)
- iMesh Light is a spyware clean and free version of iMesh. iMesh Light uses all the same features that iMesh includes but adds many more new and convenient features. With iMesh Light you can search simultaneously on other file-sharing networks such as Fasttrack, Gnutella, G2, eDonkey and the iMesh2 network....
- Software downloads 2007-11-23
- MP3 Rocket (exe)
- MP3 Rocket is a file sharing program allowing users to download music, movies, software titles, games, documents and images files from the gnutella network. Other features include the ability to preview files while downloading, an intuitive user interface, and enhanced parental controls through the use of built-in keyword filters. MP3...
- Software downloads 2007-11-06
- Comcast feeling the heat from competition
- Comcast feeling the heat from competitionThe heck with Comcast .I just disconnected Comcast's Cable modem and installed Verizon's DSL modem . Now all I have to do is add my Router and I'm good to go . I will be paying 14.99 a month for Verizon DSL for a connection...
- Discussion threads 2007-10-25
- Comcast says it's not blocking content, applications
- Comcast says it's not blocking content, applicationsGeeI use BitTorrent to download various Linux distros.Good thing I don't use Comcast. Now I never will.RE: Comcast says it's not blocking content, applicationsThey were slowing down my Vonage phone calls to the point that I could not use the phone for 5-6 months......
- Discussion threads 2007-10-22
- Reality check: Comcast packet forging proves you can't have Internet freedom with limited government
- OK, class, it is time for yet another civics lesson. According to Electronic Frontier Foundation testing, Comcast is not only forging BitTorrent packets, but Gnutella and even Lotus Notes packets. And Lotus Notes is a core application, not something you swap copyrighted music or movie files with....
- Blog posts 2007-10-22
- Comcast's network controls: File sharing isn't Comcastic
- Comcast, in a move to save bandwidth, is interfering with subscribers who want to swap files online. According to the Associated Press, Comcast is discriminating against some of its subscribers. Comcast's interference was confirmed by various tests by the AP. The strangest twist: Comcast computers masquerade as...
- Blog posts 2007-10-19
- TrustyFiles Classic (exe)
- Search and download billions of files over multiple P2P networks--Bit Torrent, Gnutella, and Gnutella 2. Use TrustyFiles in three ways. Share with friends with personal file sharing. Use private file sharing to protect confidential files. With public file sharing, search TrustyFiles, Morpheus, Limewire, Bearshare, Shareaza, iMesh, Bit Torrent, and other...
- Software downloads 2007-08-27
- TrustyFiles Pro (exe)
- TrustyFiles Pro lets you search and download billions of files over Edonkey, BitTorrent, Gnutella, Gnutella 2, Fast Track Kazaa, and Overnet networks. TrustyFiles uniquely and simultaneously downloads a single file from these networks and the Web. TrustyFiles connects to all compatible software on these networks, such as eMule, BitTorrent, BitComet,...
- Software downloads 2007-08-09
- TrustyFiles Free (exe)
- Search and download billions of files over eDonkey, Overnet, Bit Torrent, Gnutella, G2, and Kazaa/Fast Track networks. TrustyFiles simultaneously downloads a single file from these networks and the Web. TrustyFiles connects to all compatible software on these networks, such as eDonkey, eMule, Bit Torrent, Bit Comet, Morpheus, Limewire, Bearshare, Shareaza,...
- Software downloads 2007-07-26
- Congress: P2P networks harm national security
- Congress: P2P networks harm national securityOK...I'll ask the question......Why are government employees within secure facilities or any workplace running Limewire clients? I must have missed something there.And wow....Congress is a fearful place these days. Evildoers?H-1B quota and War on TerrorismLets get real. The greater threat is H-1B contractors...
- Discussion threads 2007-07-24
- Phex (exe)
- Phex is an open-source, multiplatform, spyware free Gnutella client. You can search for, download, and share all types of file formats. The program offers advanced search and download functionalities. It is compatible with LimeWire, BearShare, Morpheus, and all other P2P Gnutella clients. Phex ships with predefined filters against adult content,...
- Software downloads 2007-07-24
Neighboring Terms
Premier Vendor Content Whitepapers, webcasts & resources from our Power Center Sponsors
- ZDNet News Videos
-
Tech news covering the latest in products, conferences and blog commentary, from ZDNet video.
- Watch the latest video >>
- Access the latest Intel and industry best practices
-
Designed specifically to address the concerns of senior IT managers at organizations with more than 100 employees, the Intel Premier IT Professional Program provides best practices via local and e-Seminars and a members-only Web site.
- View the Intel Premier IT Professional web-site tour >>
- Sports and Technology
-
Major League Baseball pitches new app to iPhone users
At Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco, Jeremy Schoenherr of MLB.com demos At-Bat, a new iPhone app from Major League Baseball.
View the ZDNet video to learn more -
The SF Giants' new hi-tech ballpark
SF Giants CIO Bill Schlough discusses new technology upgrades at AT&T Park and outlines his dual role- managing technology operations at the backend while using hi-tech to improve player performance on the field.
View the ZDNet CIO Vision Series video - From our Sponsors
- Fantasy Football
-
-
3 Great Ways To Play Fantasy Football
Play for free, play to win cash prizes- up to $3500, or customize your own league.
Learn More » -
