OpenNap was an

open-source Open source is source code that is made freely available for possible modification and redistribution. Products include permission to use and view the source code, design documents, or content of the product. The open source model is a decentrali ...

Napster server, extending the Napster protocol to allow sharing of any media type, and adding the ability to link servers together. It became popular after the original Napster network was shut down in 2001, but was subject to similar pressures and its use soon declined. As of 2024, the WinMX client is the only one still in use.

History

The original Napster

peer-to-peer file sharing Peer-to-peer file sharing is the distribution and sharing of digital media using peer-to-peer (P2P) networking technology. P2P file sharing allows users to access media files such as books, music, movies, and games using a P2P software program th ...

service was a protocol which allowed users to transfer files directly between their clients. The protocol was reverse engineered by a developer nicknamed Drscholl and several other programmers. The first OpenNap servers appeared in 1999, operating in the same manner as Napster servers did. A client program connects to a centralized OpenNap server, search for, share and download files. The OpenNap server keeps track of all available files and provides clients the ability to search the index of available files and initiate a direct transfer between the clients. The files available via OpenNap servers are stored on the clients, never passing through the server. In addition, instant messages (private chat) and group chat services similar to

IRC IRC (Internet Relay Chat) is a text-based chat system for instant messaging. IRC is designed for group communication in discussion forums, called '' channels'', but also allows one-on-one communication via private messages as well as chat ...

were also available. OpenNap servers could be interconnected with each other to form networks. Clients could connect to multiple OpenNap networks. In 2000-2001 an indexing service for all OpenNap servers was created, called ''Napigator''. Napigator allowed server administrators to add their server to a central list, so they could be easily (and often automatically) found by client software. The network was used for research into music tastes and preferences. As the

RIAA The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is a trade organization that represents the music recording industry in the United States. Its members consist of record labels and distributors that the RIAA says "create, manufacture, and/o ...

began to successfully dismantle Napster in the end of 2000, the population of OpenNap began to surge. Even though it appeared OpenNap would become the next Napster, it suffered from the same vulnerability as Napster: centralized servers. During OpenNap's peak in February 2002, the RIAA on behest of its member companies, began sending “

Cease and Desist A cease and desist letter is a document sent by one party, often a business, to warn another party that they believe the other party is committing an unlawful act, such as copyright infringement, and that they will take legal action if the oth ...

” notices to the biggest OpenNap networks. OpenNap was reduced from a population of over 250,000 to little more than 50,000 in less than five months.

References

External links

opennap repository
on GitHub {{File sharing protocols 1999 software File sharing software File sharing networks Peer-to-peer file sharing Software using the GNU General Public License