• Adventure
  • Auto
  • Culture
  • Entertainment
  • Home & Garden
  • Money
  • Science
  • Tech
  • Video
  • Shows
  • Blogs
  • Quizzes
  • Games
  • Random Article
  • Computer
  • Electronics
  • Home > 
  • Tech > 
  • Computer > 
  • Computer Software > 
  • File Sharing

by Marshall Brain

Print
Cite This!
Close 
Please copy/paste the following text to properly cite this HowStuffWorks article:

Brain, Marshall.  "How Gnutella Works"  23 July 2002.  HowStuffWorks.com. <http://computer.howstuffworks.com/file-sharing.htm>  11 February 2012.
Cite
Feedback

Future of Computers

Watch now
Watch now
Inside this Article
  1. How Gnutella Works
  2. Napster's Architecture
  3. Gnutella's Architecture
  1. Gnutella Clients
  2. XoloX Example: Searching
  3. XoloX Example: Downloading
  4. See more »
    1. Is Gnutella Legal?
    2. Lots More Information
    3. See all File Sharing articles

Lots More Information

Related HowStuffWorks Articles

  • How MP3 Files Work
  • How MP3 Players Work
  • How Napster Worked
  • How Web Servers Work
  • How Hard Disks Work
  • How CD Burners Work
  • How Internet Infrastructure Works
  • How Home Networking Works
  • What are copyrights and patents?

More Great Links

  • Gnutella Host Directories
  • Kazaa
  • Knowbuddy's Gnutella FAQ
  • Gnutella News
  • PHP Gnutella search code
  • The Internet Debacle - An Alternative View
  • Embedded.com: Embedding Peer-To-Peer

News

  • MTV.com: Recording Industry Sues 32 Students For Illegal File-Sharing - 10/04
  • New Wave of Illegal File Sharing Lawsuits Brought By RIAA - 4/04
  • Tom's Hardware Guide: Survey: Music file sharing on the decrease - 4/04
  • WiredNews: Roxio Buys Pressplay, Napster Lives - 5/03
  • NewScientist.com: "Random walkers" may speed peer-to-peer networks - 7/02
  • Gnutella.com: Labels Planning Legal Attack on Individuals? - 7/02
  • Gnutella.com: Hollywood Wants to Plug the "Analog Hole" - 5/02
  • P2P.com: Gnutella and Freenet Represent True Technological Innovation - 5/00
VIDEO: Check out these videos about 3D Software and 11 incredible CAD videos. >>
Previous Page

Popular Tech Topics

The Ultimate Computer History Quiz
The Ultimate Computer History Quiz
Top 5 Myths About the Internet
Top 5 Myths About the Internet
How to Connect Your Computer to Your TV
How to Connect Your Computer to Your TV
How Capacitors Work
How Capacitors Work
How Cloud Computing Works
How Cloud Computing Works
Take a look at Computer Videos

You Might Also Like

The Basics of C Programming

If you are a programmer, or if you are interested in becoming a programmer, there are a couple of benefits you gain from learning Learn how to write computer programs in C.

How Adobe AIR Works

is well-known for Flash, Photoshop, Illustrator and other design software. So why did the company release AIR, a software development platform?

Popular Articles

  • How to Edit Functions in Excel 2010 Formulas
  • How to remove vocals from songs on iTunes
  • Tech Talk: Java Quiz
Inside this Article
  1. How Gnutella Works
  2. Napster's Architecture
  3. Gnutella's Architecture
  4. Gnutella Clients
  5. XoloX Example: Searching
  1. XoloX Example: Downloading
  2. Is Gnutella Legal?
  3. Lots More Information
  4. See all File Sharing articles
Previous Page

Popular Tech Videos

FPO
  • Cell Phone Tricks
  • Electronics Deconstructed
  • Ultimate Computer Hardware
  • How It's Made
  • Its All Geek To Me
  • See more»

New HSW Games

FPO
  • Storm Tracker
  • Memory Matrix
  • Crab Fishing Game
  • Volcano Explorer
  • Cannon Challenge
  • Speed Match
  • Lost in Migration
  • Word Bubbles
  • Color Match

Related Content

Prices: MP3 Players

  • Touchscreen Mp4 Player + Video Camera 8gb
    Touchscreen Mp4 Player + Video Camera 8gb

    hughes2443 Store Touchscreen MP4 Player + Video Camera 8GB Touchscreen MP4 Player + Video Camera 8GB. MP4/MP3 digital music and video player with all the same excellent features you have come to expect from our digital media players, but now with touchscreen and a built in camera + video recorder. This baby is like your very own personal entertainment center packed into one slick PMP. Touch screen control with the large TFT LCD makes navigation a breeze, while the big display renders movies int

    $115.99

  • Global Mp4 Digital Player P-mp415
    Global Mp4 Digital Player P-mp415

    The Global P-MP415 is a feature-rich gadget that includes an e-book viewer, an mp4 and mp3 player with lyrics display, a calendar, and a stopwatch. With a 2.4-inch TFT screen and 4 GB storage capacity, this Global video and game player also stores and displays photos. Besides playing media files, Global P-MP415 enables you to record conversations with a built-in microphone. This mp4 and mp3 player comes with stereo earbuds for playback and a USB cable for data transfer between PCs and other media. This Global video and game player also supports WAV and WMA audio formats, and AVI video formats. This media player uses a rechargeable lithium battery.

    $68.99

HOWSTUFFWORKS
  • Adventure
  • Auto
  • Culture
  • Entertainment
  • Health
  • Home & Garden
  • Lifestyle
  • Money
  • Science
  • Tech
MORE STUFF
  • Blogs
  • Games
  • HSW Tools
  • RSS
  • Maps
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Newsletters
  • Video
OUR WEBSITES
  • Animal Planet
  • Consumer Guide Auto
  • Consumer Guide Products
  • Discovery Channel
  • Discovery Fit & Health
  • HSW Brazil
  • HSW China HowStuffWorks China
  • Investigation Discovery
  • Oprah Winfrey Network
  • Planet Green
  • Science Channel
  • TLC
  • Discovery Education
  • Store
CUSTOMER SERVICE
  • Advertising
  • Contact Us
  • Help
CORPORATE
  • About Us
  • Careers @ Discovery
  • Privacy Policy
  • Visitor Agreement
TAKE US WITH YOU
FOLLOW US
© 1998-2012 HowStuffWorks, Inc