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Advances in Decentralized Peer Networks

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the more-systems-slip-through-your-fingers dept.

PureFiction writes "Peer networks are gaining some attention these days given advances in much more decentralized search architectures and swarming distribution networks. Research has indicated that these decentralized networks are resistant to legal and technological attacks. The continued proliferation of broadband and wireless networking will ensure pervasive deployment of distributed peer networking infrastructure that will drive significant innovations in personal and community digital communications services."

13 of 140 comments (clear)

  1. It's a shame.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    that every word couldn't be a hyperlink.

    Chicago, what?

  2. Last mile gauntlet. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    "Research has indicated that these decentralized networks are resistant to legal and technological attacks. The continued proliferation of broadband and wireless networking will ensure pervasive deployment of distributed peer networking infrastructure that will drive significant innovations in personal and community digital communications services."

    So what P2P networks are resistent to "last mile" control tactics? Port blocking. Speed limiting. Quotas. Remember control of P2P has one thing in common with security. It doesn't have to be perfect. It simply has to be innconvient enough that people give up and go away.

  3. Damn Peer To Peer networks by nweaver · · Score: 5, Interesting

    As a security person, I hate these peer to peer applications: there are so many worm strategies which can exploit these, creating fast and stealthy attacks.

    As such, if I was in charge of corporate security administration, I'd ban them completely. At the universities, I'd packet-shape-them into a much lower priority.

    Unfortunatly, they are growing considerably more stealthy as a result of these legal attacks and the effects of packet-shapers. This may be a good thing for those who want their 1337 WAR3Z, D00D!!, but is rather unfortunate for those who want to create secure systems.

    --
    Test your net with Netalyzr
  4. Show me a P2P network being used legitimately! by t0qer · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I'm not trying to troll here. Since napster all i've ever seen P2P used for is piracy of music, applications, pretty much whatever you wanted.

    I am that pot calling the kettle black. I am your average joe user. I have kazaa and routinely use it for downloading music. Yes I am a criminal. As are %99.9999 of all other P2P users.

    I understand the benifits of P2P, each client acting as a server and bonding the collective bandwidth of all the clients together. Yes I know it can be used for free speech, and I know for legitimate file distribution it can't be beat. That's just it though, it's never going to be legitimate without some type of DRM.

    I downloaded doom3 alpha (Sorry Carmack, it kicks ass though :) I saw no less than 100 users sharing the file. Nobody is supposed to have it but I do. Thanks to the decentralized nature of P2P there's no accountability. Websites that were hosting the file got a nasty attorney letter though.

    Here is my slashdottish geek comment. P2P creators need to start focusing on making their clients good for legitimate uses. For example, I think it would kick ass if the distro's started using P2P for their distro's, or a P2P based web server/browser. Anything to turn it from a black to a white sheep.

    *Note to mods
    Sorry I don't mean to be Mr. Obvious here, but I just feel any future P2P doesn't stand a chance if it doesn't have a legitimate foundation to stand on. The RIAA & MPAA has already proven what a great team of legal sharks they have and can overcome any technological advancements made in P2P

    my 2 cents

    1. Re:Show me a P2P network being used legitimately! by PureFiction · · Score: 5, Interesting

      If you had clicked through a few of the links you would have come across BitTorrent which is currently running a widescale distribution of the latest RedHat release ISO images using a decentralized swarming distribution network.

      For a limited picture of what future decentralized peer networks can accomplish you need only use your imagination.

      This is still relatively new technology with a lot of room for growth and extensible uses.

    2. Re:Show me a P2P network being used legitimately! by Skyshadow · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Okay, I downloaded the RedHat 8 CDs using gtk-gnutella while all the FTP sites were swamped. Checked the digital sigs and I was on my way. Legit enough for you?

      --
      Every year during my review, I just pray the words "slashdot.org" aren't mentioned.
  5. Gah, my eyes.... by NiftyNews · · Score: 5, Funny

    Is it just me, or did that mess of links and words look strangely like things I read at work?

    If I wanted to read horrible PC-edited, buzzword-laden, over-link tripe, I would look at the stack of paperwork on my left that is being shunned in favor of reading SlashDot.

    --
    ------
    Today's Top Deals
  6. Easy - Freenet by Sanity · · Score: 5, Informative
    Freenet is being used, among many other things, to distribute information in China to people who couldn't get it any other way. It is also being used in this country to distribute censored information about the Church of Scientology, and in the UK to distribute information censored under the official secrets act.

    It is early days yet, but at least this demonstrates the type of things it can be useful for.

  7. Re:Well... by Atzanteol · · Score: 5, Funny
    ln -s /dev/urandom /usr/share/mp3s/popular-song.mp3
    Download *that*!
    --
    "Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge"

    - Charles Darwin
  8. Piracy defined... by bziman · · Score: 5, Interesting
    You don't seem to understand the meaning "piracy". There's nothing illegal about downloading stuff off the Internet. Philosophers may argue what's ethical, but that's irrelevent to legality.

    Piracy would be buying a CD, making copies of it, and selling those copies to people for a profit. In this case, you entered into an agreement with the copyright holder of the CD, and are violating applicable laws.

    When you download something off the Internet, you are under no obligation to be aware of its source, or the license agreements associated with it.

    Even posting copyrighted material on the Internet is not illegal if you have not been explicitely notified that you are in violation of the copyright agreement. The notice on your CD case counts, I believe, if you own the CD.

    So if you download something off the 'Net, you're well within the bounds of legality, and you can retransmit that until the copyright holder asks you to stop.

    American laws are so strange...

  9. P2P there if we need it by mboedick · · Score: 5, Insightful

    It does not concern me at all that P2P content is currently mostly illegal warez, music, movies and porn. It's an excellent testbed for the ability of the technology to withstand technological and legal attack.

    It does however comfort me that P2P works and is widely deployed. The average person is familiar with it and knows how to use it. If corporations and government ever get too oppressive, P2P is an powerful tool that the people can use to preserve their rights. Current P2P networks could easily be put into this type of service at need.

    I see the net just now starting to realize the ideals that is was founded under. Decentralization, free access to information for all, everyone can easily be both producer and consumer, etc. All trends (wireless, weblogs, P2P) point to this.

  10. Buzzword Bingo! by Bowie+J.+Poag · · Score: 5, Funny



    "Peer networks *DING!* are gaining some attention these days given advances in much more decentralized *DING!* search architectures *DING!* and swarming *DING!* distribution *DING!* networks. *DING!* Research has indicated *DING!* that these decentralized *DING!* networks *DING!* are resistant *DING!* to legal *DING!* and technological *DING!* attacks. *DING!* The continued proliferation *DING!* of broadband *DING!* and wireless *DING!* networking will ensure pervasive *DING!* deployment *DING!* of distributed *DING!* peer *DING!* networking *DING!* infrastructure *DING!* that will drive significant *DING!* innovations *DING!* in personal *DING!* and community *DING!* digital communications *DING!* services *DING!* ."

    Cheers,

    --
    Bowie J. Poag

  11. Slashdotted links by Jouni · · Score: 5, Funny

    Oh MAN, it will take us HOURS to slashdot these servers down! We should get paid for this stuff.

    Jouni

    --
    Jouni Mannonen | Game Designer, Consultant