Confused Gnutella newbie

[frank C]

Hello.

Recently today I heard about Gnutella, while browsing some Napster and MP3 related pages. I tried to learn more about it, but have still some doubts I know someone with a little more experience may easily answer.

* Gnutella is just a protocol, right? That is why there are several client implementations out there. When trying to search for one, I was not able to find the one called Gnutella. There are several with similar names, like Newtella or Gnotella. But everybody talks about the Gnutella client. I guess it was the original one. Where is it now?

*Im currently downloading one to check it out, LimeWire Windows 98 client. Why do these peolple build such a software for free? I mean, what is the idea, desibes helping people share their files?

* The www.gnutella.com/org website was the fisrt place I though would be useful to learn about Gnutella. But there is just one sign that says: "its all okay". Can anybody explain??

at last, which client do you recommend??

[robm425]

It's a protocol and it used to be a client.

From the "What is Gnutella?" page:
"There is no official program named "Gnutella". The original version, 0.56, was released as an early beta. The program was excellent, but not completed. This version contained defects that contribute to poor functioning of the network, which consists of all the computers running a client on the Internet at the same time. All existing robust clients are clones, with their functionality derived from a reverse engineering effort on the original program. The proliferation of the old software has prevented the Gnutella network from reaching its full potentials."

It's no longer being developed so it's no longer being distributed.

[Pinecone!]

I'm sure the developers have a business plan to generate revenue in the future.

[causeimchinese]

AOL Time Warner controls them so it's very unlikely that they'll ever be used.

[G-e-O-r-G-i-A]

BearShare, Gnotella, and LimeWire are generally considered to be the best Windows Gnutella clients.

[rockin r]

Sorry I'm a new to this and have a (probably stupid) question...

Do all of these different programs connect to the same place? Are people using Gnotella trading files with people using BearShare? or is it not inter-connected like that?

[email protected]

[Alexa Marie]

Yes, they all connect to the same network so people using one client can share files with people using another client.