Trying to understand how things work
 

Hi to all, I'm a relative newbie to LimeWire, so I'm hoping you'll all be gentle with me. ;)

I can understand that the files with a higher number of folks sharing them, are the ones to go for, but I'm trying to understand how a file can be downloaded from multiple sources.

I've been working with computers for about 25 years, but this is the first time I've ever ventured into the world of file sharing, so there is much to learn. I'm hoping that the answer to my question above, may also explain why I see folks downloading from me, at what seems like a good speed, only to see them drop out at about 20/30/40% complete.

Apart from that one query, I am thoroughly enjoying my new found program, I can see it could easily take over my spare time.:)

All the best,
Chris P

I'm not the best person even close to it to answer this question. But here goes .. lol .. the data is split into small packets of data for downlding. When you are sourcing from more than one source, then the next packet is taken from the next available source. Be that the 1st 2nd .... whichever it can get a hold of 1st.

The speed of your downld could be affected by a no. of factors. eg: your downld is being juggled in priority for a particular slot or tempo of downld bandwidth with other people who are using the other slots of a particular source.

Thanks for the reply, it does give me an understanding of how things work, but it also conjures up a few more questions in my tired old brain. :(

Things like where the packets are decided upon, because it has to be in one central place - yet each file is kept on a user's machine. As an example, if I'm downloading from two sources, and during the process another two sources become available, how do those machines know what they are to send? Sources one and two have already provided half of the file, in however many packets, so what communicates with the latecomers to say I want packets xy and z. :confused:

It's all too confusing, I guess I should just leave the detail upto the experts, and just be happy that it works.

All the best,
Chris P

Well, here's a bit of an explanation:

The download mesh is very interesting and powerful part of the gnutella protocol--and it needs no central server.

When you exchange a file, you also exchange a list of others who have that file (or a piece of it). So, as soon as you download a piece, you are letting others know that it's available and the

If you have tooltips turned on, you can see the number of "altlocs", or recent alternate locations by hovering the mouse over the download.

Your LW will be constantly checking and updating the list, requesting pieces from the best hosts it can find, and letting others know if a host is no longer a "good" altloc.

Pretty impressive, but way beyond my knowledge of exactly what is going on ;)

Thanks stief, it's certainly very interesting. I think as time goes on I shall pick up more knowledge on the subject, but for now, I think I'll just leave it to the experts, and be happy that it works. ;)

All the best,
Chris P