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. Porto

BLIS-III