Maybe this problem is specific to your client-software or to your operating system.

(I don't think it is caused by the network-protocol itself! I hope so!!! :-)

Note that the network(-protocol) is named "gnutella", but there is no program with this name.
You can access this network using various clients (eg Bearshare, Limewire or many others)

Did you test another gnutella-client? Same problems?

Which client do you use?