Overnet
Encyclopedia
Overnet was a decentralized peer-to-peer
computer network
, usually used for sharing large files (e.g., movies and CD images). Overnet implements the Kademlia
algorithm. In late 2006, Overnet and all Overnet-owned resources were taken down as a result of legal actions from the RIAA and others. However, since the core of Overnet is decentralized, Overnet clients are still able to function with limited functionality.
Overnet was the creation of Jed McCaleb, the creator of eDonkey2000
. Before the takedown of Overnet and eDonkey2000, the two clients had merged into one client known as eDonkey2000. At its peak in June 2006, the combined network had approximately 645,000 concurrent users.
As of 16 October 2007 the Overnet Protocol is still being used by the Storm botnet
for communication between infected machines.
Peer-to-peer
Peer-to-peer computing or networking is a distributed application architecture that partitions tasks or workloads among peers. Peers are equally privileged, equipotent participants in the application...
computer network
Computer network
A computer network, often simply referred to as a network, is a collection of hardware components and computers interconnected by communication channels that allow sharing of resources and information....
, usually used for sharing large files (e.g., movies and CD images). Overnet implements the Kademlia
Kademlia
Kademlia is a distributed hash table for decentralized peer-to-peer computer networks designed by Petar Maymounkov and David Mazières in 2002. It specifies the structure of the network and the exchange of information through node lookups. Kademlia nodes communicate among themselves using UDP. A...
algorithm. In late 2006, Overnet and all Overnet-owned resources were taken down as a result of legal actions from the RIAA and others. However, since the core of Overnet is decentralized, Overnet clients are still able to function with limited functionality.
Overnet was the creation of Jed McCaleb, the creator of eDonkey2000
EDonkey2000
eDonkey2000 was a peer-to-peer file sharing application developed by US company MetaMachine, using the Multisource File Transfer Protocol...
. Before the takedown of Overnet and eDonkey2000, the two clients had merged into one client known as eDonkey2000. At its peak in June 2006, the combined network had approximately 645,000 concurrent users.
As of 16 October 2007 the Overnet Protocol is still being used by the Storm botnet
Storm botnet
The Storm botnet or Storm worm botnet is a remotely controlled network of "zombie" computers that have been linked by the Storm Worm, a Trojan horse spread through e-mail spam...
for communication between infected machines.
Takedown notice
On September 12, 2005 it was reported that MetaMachine, Inc. has agreed to settle with the RIAA for $30 million (Monterey Herald Article), and the website has been replaced by a text advertisement reflecting the RIAA's interpretation of copyright law:
If you steal music or movies, you are breaking the law.
Courts around the world -- including the United States Supreme Court --
have ruled that businesses and individuals can be prosecuted for illegal
downloading.
You are not anonymous when you illegally download copyrighted material.
Your IP address is xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx and has been logged.
Respect the music, download legally.
External links
- overnet.com - Official overnet website (but taken down by RIAA)
- edonkey.com - Official eDonkey website (but taken down by RIAA)
- OvernetWorld - A discussion and sharing portal for Overnet