Opennap
Encyclopedia
OpenNap is a peer-to-peer service server software. It was created as an open source
Napster
server, extending the Napster protocol to allow sharing of any media type, and adding the ability to link servers together.
service was a protocol which allowed users to transfer files directly between their clients. The protocol was reverse engineered by a developer nicknamed Drscholl and several other programmers. The first OpenNap servers appeared in 1999, operating in the same manner as Napster servers did. A client program connects to a centralized OpenNap server, search for, share and download files. The OpenNap server keeps track of all available files and provides clients the ability to search the index of available files and initiate a direct transfer between the clients. The files available via OpenNap servers are stored on the clients, never passing through the server. In addition, instant messages
(private chat) and group chat services similar to IRC are also available.
OpenNap servers can be interconnected with each other, to form OpenNap networks. In order to find as many files as possible, many clients connected to multiple OpenNap networks. In 2000-2001 an indexing service for all OpenNap servers was created, called Napigator. Napigator allowed server administrators to add their server to a central list, so they could be easily (and often automatically) found by client software.
During OpenNap's peak in February 2002, the RIAA on behest of its member companies, began sending “Cease and Desist” notices to the biggest OpenNap networks. One by one, the networks began to collapse and OpenNap was reduced from a population of over 250,000 to little more than 50,000 in less than five months.
There are only a few private and public opennap servers still in existence.
Currently there are no actively maintained OpenNap clients anymore.
Open source
The term open source describes practices in production and development that promote access to the end product's source materials. Some consider open source a philosophy, others consider it a pragmatic methodology...
Napster
Napster
Napster is an online music store and a Best Buy company. It was originally founded as a pioneering peer-to-peer file sharing Internet service that emphasized sharing audio files that were typically digitally encoded music as MP3 format files...
server, extending the Napster protocol to allow sharing of any media type, and adding the ability to link servers together.
History
The original Napster peer-to-peer file sharingPeer-to-peer file sharing
P2P or Peer-to-peer file sharing allows users to download files such as music, movies, and games using a P2P software client that searches for other connected computers. The "peers" are computer systems connected to each other through internet. Thus, the only requirements for a computer to join...
service was a protocol which allowed users to transfer files directly between their clients. The protocol was reverse engineered by a developer nicknamed Drscholl and several other programmers. The first OpenNap servers appeared in 1999, operating in the same manner as Napster servers did. A client program connects to a centralized OpenNap server, search for, share and download files. The OpenNap server keeps track of all available files and provides clients the ability to search the index of available files and initiate a direct transfer between the clients. The files available via OpenNap servers are stored on the clients, never passing through the server. In addition, instant messages
Instant messaging
Instant Messaging is a form of real-time direct text-based chatting communication in push mode between two or more people using personal computers or other devices, along with shared clients. The user's text is conveyed over a network, such as the Internet...
(private chat) and group chat services similar to IRC are also available.
OpenNap servers can be interconnected with each other, to form OpenNap networks. In order to find as many files as possible, many clients connected to multiple OpenNap networks. In 2000-2001 an indexing service for all OpenNap servers was created, called Napigator. Napigator allowed server administrators to add their server to a central list, so they could be easily (and often automatically) found by client software.
Demise
As the RIAA began to successfully dismantle Napster in the end of 2000, the population of OpenNap began to surge. Even though it appeared OpenNap would become the next Napster, it suffered from the same vulnerability as Napster: centralized servers. When the RIAA finally dismantled Napster in 2001, it then aimed its focus on OpenNap.During OpenNap's peak in February 2002, the RIAA on behest of its member companies, began sending “Cease and Desist” notices to the biggest OpenNap networks. One by one, the networks began to collapse and OpenNap was reduced from a population of over 250,000 to little more than 50,000 in less than five months.
There are only a few private and public opennap servers still in existence.
List of historic client software
- audioGnome
- FileNavigator
- FileShare
- Lopster (or WinLop, the Windows port)
- MyNapster
- Napigator (enabled the original NapsterNapsterNapster is an online music store and a Best Buy company. It was originally founded as a pioneering peer-to-peer file sharing Internet service that emphasized sharing audio files that were typically digitally encoded music as MP3 format files...
client to connect to opennap servers) - Rapigator
- SunshineUN
- TekNapTekNapTekNap is a Napster-compatible client for file downloading and on-line chatting with colorable text, originally named BWap. It is a console client, designed to administer OpenNap servers, and capable of administering most aspects of SlavaNap servers....
(an opennap port of BitchXBitchXBitchX is a free IRC client and has been considered to be the most popular ircII-based IRC client. The initial implementation, written by "Trench" and "HappyCrappy", was a script for the IrcII chat client. It was converted to a program on its own right by panasync . BitchX 1.1 final was released in...
) - Utatane (P2P)Utatane (P2P)Utatane is a Windows OpenNap client developed in Japan, and available in English translation. It is the client most often recommended by the largest OpenNap servers in Japan such as Zerosen. On an average day, perhaps 3000 Utatane users can be observed connecting to these servers, sharing...
- WinMXWinMXWinMX is a freeware peer-to-peer file sharing program authored by Frontcode Technologies that runs on Microsoft Windows operating systems, created in 2001. According to one study, it was the number one source for online music in 2005 with an estimated 2.1 million users...
- XNapXNapXNap is a free peer-to-peer client licensed under the GNU General Public License. XNap is written purely in Java. The client features a modern Swing based user interface and console support that will run well on every platform with a recent Java Runtime Environment . The XNap client was designed to...
Currently there are no actively maintained OpenNap clients anymore.