Napster and Gnutella Protocols English micro-project Guillaume CASSIN May 31, 2001
Presentation Definitions Napster Gnutella Napster versus Gnutella: –Distribution –Architecture –Queries
Definitions Client-to-server model: client processes request services from server processes Peer-to-peer model: –no centralized server –direct connection between users –file sharing
Napster Fight against the recording industry Written by Shaw Fanning New way to find recorded music A new file sharing technology
Gnutella Conceived by 2 developers of Nullsoft Openly published in March 2000 They want to create a better Napster Gnutella is also an Internet server
Napster vs Gnutella Distribution Napster is freeware, its source code is not public Gnutella protocol is public, some programs are open source
Architecture Napster: –a big server is the directory –direct connection between users Gnutella: –fully distributed –servent (SERVer+cliENT)
A Napster query Napster server Client A Client B Client D Client C
G C E D F A B A Gnutella query
Conclusion Because of its architecture, Napster is very sensitive to the recording industry’s pressure Possible evolutions: –Napster will become a commercial service –Gnutella takes over from Napster
References Articles The Gnutella Protocol Specification The Napster Protocol Specification Web sites: Gnutella: clip2.com, gnute.com, gnutelladev.wego.com Napster: opennap.sourceforge.com