Creating a P2P / Decentralized File Sharing Network

Question

I was wondering where I could learn more about decentralized distribution and P2P networks. Ideally, I would like to create something to help students share files with each other across their university network so that they can share with each other without fear of outsiders.

I'm not going to build the next Napster here, just wondering if this idea is possible. Are there any open source P2P networks that can be configured to do what I want?

Answer 1

You basically need a server (well, you don’t need a server, but it will be much easier) that will store user IPs between other things, such as hash lists of files, etc.
This server can be in any environment that you want (which is very convenient).

Then each client connects to the server (it must have dns, it can be free, I used no-ip.com once) and first sends the main information (for example, its IP address and hash list file), and then sends that from time to time (say, every 5 minutes or less) to let you know that it is still available.

When a client searches for files / users, it simply requests a server.

This is a centralized network , but file sharing will be performed on p2p client-client connections.
The reason for this is because you cannot know the IP to connect without any link.

Just clear this server thing:
- Torrents use trackers.
- eMule ED2K uses lugdunum servers.
- eMule "true p2p" Kademlia uses well-known nodes (clients) (most of the time from servers like this ).

Answer 2

Use DC ++

Answer 3

Tribler is what you are looking for!

This is a fully decentralized BitTorrent client from Delft University of Technology. It is open source and written in Python, as well as a great starting point to learn.

Answer 4

What happened to Bit-Torrent?

Edit: There is also a pre-installed P2P network on Microsoft operating systems, which is pretty cool as the basis for creating something. http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/network/bb545868.aspx