Direct Connect (file sharing)

Direct Connect (DC) is a peer -to-peer file sharing protocol and a computer program that implements this protocol. Finally, it is also the file-sharing network that build the users through their participation, as referred Direct Connect.

It has nothing to do with the similar sounding product Connect Direct ( C: D ) do.

History

The Direct Connect protocol was designed by the company NeoModus Inc.. In addition, the company developed server and client software, using this protocol, both although nowadays these are used only by very few users.

Design and operation

In DC, there is a central system. There is a server called the hub to which to connect a number of clients. Either the user connects, he should know the destination address directly to the hub, or look for one from one of the waiting on the internet various Hublisten. In addition to the general Hubs even those whose users are restricted primarily to a specific topic exist.

Once connected to the hub, the user of a client to a can participate in a chat -type chat. Here, there is a public channel, which is called Main Chat, and the ability to converse privately ( to Private Messages). In addition, the user can share directories ( sharing). The files contained therein can then be downloaded by any other user in the hub. The operator of the hubs also have the option to extend the main chat with scripts, for example to allow the user to retrieve statistics on each stroke. However, this is not supported by any client software.

The user must specify how many upload slots it provides. Most public hubs set a minimum limit of upload slots set (often specifies a particular hub / slot ratio, for example, a slot per stroke ), without which the user is denied access.

The search for files takes place either via a search by name, or by certain TTH. Alternatively, a list of all shared files (so called FileList ) requested a user to browse interesting stuff in it after.

The system scales in practice poorly to very large numbers of users. The largest hubs rarely reach a number of simultaneously connected users of more than 6000. Nevertheless, hubs can interconnect. Then search queries are forwarded also to Nachbarhubs to increase the chance to hit.

The possibility of password assignment closed communities can be created with DC. Alternatively, the access is often complicated by a required minimum amount of shared data ( minimum Share). A further possibility for the restriction is the restricting client connections allowed on a specific IP range. Thus, for example, then only computers from a local network to access the hub.

By taking away the totally free access to some hub operator also hope for legal problems to go out of the way. In many DC hubs is exchanged copyrighted material. From the industry paid investigators as employees of the company for the prosecution of copyright infringement ( GVU ) access should be made more difficult by the above hurdles.

Popularity and distribution

Direct Connect is mainly used in Scandinavian countries, a very popular system ( in Norway was DC 2004 according to Google Zeitgeist the third most frequent keyword in the country). Goods in early 2005 in the entire DC network according hublist.org 800,000 users online in around 5400 hubs are now in October 2007, according to dchublist.com around 1 million users in 3500 distributed hubs (where the vast majority of users is connected to multiple hubs so that a user count of less than 200,000 is realistic ). The range of the German public hubs, however, is severely limited.

One application for which the Direct Connect system is particularly suitable is the use within closed, private networks, such as at LAN parties or in university networks. In such a Local Area Network very high data transfer rates can be achieved with software.

Software

Clients

  • MLDonkey ( platform independent )
  • DC and different derivatives ( Windows)
  • LinuxDC ( Linux)
  • DC # (. NET Platform)
  • Shake peer ( Mac)
  • ApexDC StrongDC based ( Windows)
  • AirDC StrongDC based ( Windows)
  • EiskaltDC ( platform independent )

Server (also called a hub )

  • YnHub
  • PtokaX
  • RusHub
  • Open Direct Connect Hub
  • Verlihub
  • DB Hub
  • HeXHub
  • DSHub
  • Direct Connect hub link
  • μHub
  • Luadch
  • ADCH
Client (computing) Internet Relay Chat .NET Framework
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