for: shared resource

File sharing is a method of distributing electronically stored information such as computer programs and digital media. File sharing can be implemented in a variety of storage and distribution models. Current common models are the centralized server-based approach and the distributed peer-to-peer (P2P) networks.

Sneakernet

The oldest form of file sharing is Sneakernet (called such because people would physically transfer files from one person to another by walking; using their sneakers). Before network file sharing people would exchange files on Magnetic tape (including audio cassettes, 8-tracks, VHS, Betamax, etc.), floppy disks and other removable media.

File server-based sharing

The oldest form of network file sharing is the server-based approach in which a network host is designated as a file server. A file server implements at least one network file sharing protocol, such as File Transfer Protocol (FTP), Trivial File Transfer Protocol (TFTP), Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP), Network File System (protocol) (NFS), Server Message Block (SMB, CIFS), or other network file systems. Computers seeking to access stored files utilize a compatible client-side protocol implementation and either mount an entire remote directory hierarchy within their file system or facilitate access, transfer, and local storage of individual remote files by means of a user application.

Web-based sharing

Webhosting is also used for file-sharing; it is similar to the server-based approach, but uses the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) and related technologies for file transfer. In small communities popular files can be distributed very quickly and efficiently without extra software in addition to the ubiquitous web browsers. Web hosters are independent of each other; therefore contents are not distributed further. Another term for this is one-click hosting.

File sharing on the social graph

Recently, Facebook opened its API to 3rd party developers which has allowed for a new type of file-sharing service to emerge. Box.net and FreeDrive.com are two examples of companies that have specific Facebook applications that allow file sharing to be easily accomplished between friends.

Other client-server protocols

• Audiogalaxy - Service ended in the middle of 2002 .
• Direct Connect
• Napster - Closed in its original form in July 2001, since changed to a fee-based service.
• Scour Exchange - The second exchange network after Napster. No longer exists.
• Soulseek - Still popular today despite being relatively old, with more than 120,000 users online at any time.

Peer-to-peer file sharing

Peer-to-peer file sharing is distinct from file trading

First P2P generation: server-client

To understand peer-to-peer file sharing and what was indeed the very first implementation of peer-to-peer file sharing, you need to go back before the popularized form of the Internet as we know it. First use of Peer-to-peer file sharing was on a network similar to the Internet known as WWIVnet. WWIVnet was like FidoNet but it used a distributed model of nodes where traffic was re-routed based on the shortest distance between nodes. It worked very much like the Internet but without a constant always on connection. The Internet existed prior to WWIVnet, but it was only available to academic institutions, governments and large corporations. FidoNet was a hierarchical (server/client) based network thus not peer-to-peer. WWIVnet was the first widely available distributed network model that you could bring to your home. That all being said, it did not have the capability to share files built in. It was not until the introduction of Linker34 by Jayson Cowan did we see the first P2P application over a distributed end user network. Requests for file lists and specific files where handled by the peer much in the same way as second generation peer-to-peer file sharing and no central server was used for this process.