File Sharing Technologies

What is File Sharing?

• File sharing is the public or private sharing of computer data or space in a network with various levels of access privilege.

• allows a number of people to use the same file or file by some combination of being able to read or view it, write to or modify it, copy it, or print it.

• File sharing can also mean having an allocated amount of personal file storage in a common file system.

• FTP File Transfer Protocol (FTP) is a standard Internet protocol for transmitting files between computers on the Internet.

• Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP), which transfers e-mail.

Advantages of File Sharing

• In a file sharing environment, a large number of users can access a program as though it were on their local machines, when actually the program resides on a single file server.

• Centralizing files on a few file servers not only simplifies administration, it helps maintain consistency of shared data files. When changes are made to a shared file, they become available to all users immediately.

Disadvantages of File Sharing

• 1) Security Problems- explicit programming required 2) Integrity Problems- rules needed to be programmed explicitly 3) Concurrent access anomalies- multiple access of same file in case of multiple user system 4) Data Isolation- related data required by different programs of same application may resides in diff isolated files 5) Unanticipated queries- handling sudden queries can be difficult 6) Data redundancy 7) Data inconsistency 8) Duplication of data 9) No standardized control over organization of files 10) No standardized control over structure of files

• Peer-to-peer (abbreviated to P2P) refers to a computer network in which each computer in the network can act as a client or server for the other computers in the network, allowing shared access to files and peripherals without the need for a central server.

• P2P technology allows “decentralized” sharing.

Examples of Different File Sharing Technologies

AIM (AOL Instant Messenger)

an instant messaging and presence computer program which uses the proprietary OSCAR instant messaging protocol and the TOC protocol to allow registered users to communicate in real time.

• eBuddy is a privately held company which owns a browser-based web and mobile messenger service supporting various instant messaging services. eBuddy was launched in 2003 under the name e-Messenger, located at www.e-messenger.net, before rebranding itself in 2006 to eBuddy.

• IBM Lotus is a client–server application and middleware platform that provides real-time, unified communications and collaboration for enterprises. Those capabilities include presence information, enterprise instant messaging, web conferencing, community collaboration, and telephony capabilities and integration. It is sold by the Lotus Software division of IBM.

• ICQ is an instant messaging computer program, which was first developed and popularized by the Israeli company Mirabilis, then bought by America Online, and since April 2010 owned by Mail.ru Group. The name ICQ is a homophone for the phrase "I seek you". This is an adaptation of the Morse code callout "CQ", which means "calling any station".

• IMVU is an online social entertainment destination where members use 3D avatars to meet new people, chat, create and play games created by Fydor Guthenschlag. IMVU has over 50 million registered users, 10 million unique visitors per month and three million monthly active users. IMVU has the world’s largest virtual goods of more than 10 million items(some hidden by their creators), almost all of which are created by its own members.

Mail.ru Agent (MRA, M-Agent) is a free instant messaging program created by Mail.ru, one of the largest Russian web portals. Besides basic IM functionality (presence, contact list, sending text messages, file transfers, message history, etc.), M-Agent also provides online gaming, peer-to-peer voice calls, video calls, low-rate VoIP calls, free SMS, automatic mail checking and other useful features.

• Meebo is a social platform connecting users with their friends across the web. It began in 2005 as a browser based instant messaging program which supported multiple IM services, including Yahoo! Messenger, Windows Live Messenger, AIM, ICQ, MySpaceIM, Facebook Chat, Google Talk, CafeMom and others.

• Mxit (pronounced "mix it") is a free instant messaging application developed by MXit Lifestyle (Pty) Ltd. in South Africa that runs on multiple mobile and computing platforms. Along with its own standard protocol, it can connect to Yahoo, ICQ, Google Talk, Facebook, AIM, or Windows Live Messenger contacts as well.

• Tencent QQ, generally referred to as QQ, is the most popular free instant messaging computer program in mainland China. As of July 11, 2011, the active QQ users accounts for QQ IM totaled 812.3 million, possibly making it the world's second largest online community.

Windows Live Messenger (formerly named MSN Messenger) is an instant messaging client created by Microsoft that is currently designed to work with Windows XP (up to Wave 3), Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Mobile, Windows CE, and others. The client has been part of Microsoft's Windows Live set of online services since 2005. It connects to Microsoft's .NET Messenger Service.

Yahoo! Messenger (sometimes abbreviated YIM) is an advertisement-supported instant messaging client and associated protocol provided by Yahoo!. Yahoo! Messenger is provided free of charge and can be downloaded and used with a generic "Yahoo! ID" which also allows access to other Yahoo! services, such as Yahoo! Mail, where users can be automatically notified when they receive new email. Yahoo! also offers PC-PC, PC-Phone and Phone-to-PC service, file transfers, webcam hosting, text messaging service, and chat rooms in various categories.

Thank You!!!

Prepared by: Mary May C. PortoBLIS-III