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Skype Issues Software Fix For Windows and Mac Users
jbrodkin writes "Skype has released a new version of its Windows software to fix the problem that has kept some Skype users from logging in and making calls yesterday, and plans to issue a similar update to Mac users later today, the company said. Skype, which is in the process of being sold to Microsoft for $8.5 billion, previously gave users instructions on how to fix the problem, which involved deleting a 'shared.xml' file. While Windows and Mac users are being given a software fix, Linux users still have to fix the problem manually (but they can handle it). Still unknown is what caused the Skype outage. Skype said it affected only a small percentage of users, but hasn't explained the cause. Skype has at least updated its status page to reflect the outage, however. Even after issuing yesterday's fix instructions, the status page had claimed for a while that sign in and registration were 'all working normally.'"
The Skype network is certainly interesting. It's based on peer-to-peer architecture that can sustain itself and requires only small amount of centralized infrastructure. Last time the network was affected after a buggy software update Skype only added more of their own supernodes to the network to stabilize it and later shut them down. It's certainly great use of P2p technology. If you think about it, the normal phone network is really centralized too. Even if you're just calling your neighbor your phone call goes far away to exchange. But with Skype the users with good network and computers can become supernodes and the data travels in the network. And it's still really fast! If you think about it, the normal phone network could be compared to a brothel - a central dirty place where the transactions happen. But Skype's P2P model allows the client to travel the network on its own. You take your neighbor node and tell him if you want a woman or ladyboy tonight. You choose ladyboy and he guides you to the correct direction. He's not a pimp tho, just a friendly neighbor on the network. Soon you see a group of fine ladyboys and start processing them. First one has too small boobs. Move to the next one. You don't like the face, next one. Ugh, looks too much like a guy. At ladyboy number six there's a match and your Skype client tells her you have this group protocol extension. The ladyboy client can handle it too, so all three of you handshake and start the process. Now with normal phone network that wouldn't be possible - if the call exchange (brothel) doesn't have the extension (group fun) implemented, you're out of luck.
Supernodes and P2P network is also the reason Skype works so good and easily with NAT networks too. If both of you are behind NAT, the supernodes on the network will relay your traffic. Is there anything similar on the open source clients? As far as I know they're pretty much based on the old client-server model.
When I post using my normal, not-troll account, I almost never get a modded-up comment.
And on the other hand. pretty valid comments and modded-down and even marked as Troll, while I honestly wasn't trolling.
Here you post Goatse link, and it is modded up. See why I post them?