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Description:
What's it all about?
Our aim is to build a secure, easy to use network which is extendable, scalable, reliable and - above all - useful. The ultimate goal is to create a network platform for distributed services, communication and data transfer.
That sounds good but what does it do now?
NodeScan currently supports Chat, File Sharing, Searching and Audio Streaming.
Great, let me get my music collection...
If you are looking for a place to exchange pirated software, music, video, pornography, or other similar items please look somewhere else. There are plenty of alternative programs and networks which are better suited to this endeavor. We would rather spend our time improving and extending NodeScan than fighting legal battles.
So what's it good for then?
First of all we want to provide a public (or private) space for people to share files which have they have authored or made. Some examples are; digital photography, 3D graphics, articles, research papers, music and computer software. NodeScan supports any kind of file format.
We also designed NodeScan to be used on an Intranet. For example a company could use it as a document/file management system or a school could allow its students to access assignments from teachers as well as communicate with them or their peers using the chat feature.
While file sharing has made the idea of peer-to-peer networks well known and popular we consider it to be one of only many useful services which can benefit from a peer-to-peer architecture. NodeSan is designed to support a virtually unlimited number, and variety, of services. To this end we have created an extensible platform to which services can be "dropped in" and started and stopped as required.
How difficult is it to add other new services?
NodeScan Server's plug-in service architecture allows virtually unlimited, customized extension and adaptation of the "core" server. The server API (Application Programming Interface) offers built in support for indexing, searching, encryption, logging and basic server/client communications protocols.
We are moving on a number of fronts to develop more powerful services and are very interested in receiving suggestions for new services, or inquiries about how to develop them.
Where does the peer-to-peer aspect come in?
NodeScan servers are designed to link up with each other in a peer-to-peer fashion allowing them to communicate with each other and provide universal access for clients to network resources, no matter where on the network they connect. When we looked at existing peer-to-peer network programs we identified a number of weaknesses and limitations. What we have tried to do is take the best features from a number of different types of systems and programs and combine them. The nodeScan network combines a centralized server design with peer-to-peer flexibility and communication capability. Click here for a more detailed explanation.
Is it secure ?
We place a high regard on security and privacy and we will continue to make improvements in this area. It is very easy to set up a private network which only authorized users can connect to. Connections can be refused from unregistered IP addresses, ports can be changed and communications between hosts and clients are scrambled. All connections are logged with IP address and date of access. Servers can be remotely administered, allowing them to be reconfigured across the network.
What platforms are supported?
NodeScan has been tested on Mac OS 9.x, Mac OS X, (PPC) Linux and Windows 98. All except the version for Mac OS (classic) require Java 1.2 or later. Audio playback requires Java version 1.2 with the Java Media Framework, or Java 1.3 or later (which includes the JMF).
Do you have any plans to support any other platforms?
We intend to create a platform-agnostic network which facilitates in exchanging data and communicating across platforms. We do not intend to limit it only to personal computers but eventually to support any and all network connectable devices.
But does it scale?
Utilizing a distributed peer-to-peer architecture means that the work of indexing, storing and delivering files is distributed. Indexes are duplicated across servers so searches do not rely on a particular server and there is no single point of failure.
How much does it cost?
The beta version of NodeScan is free. We are still deciding on an appropriate fee structure for the final release version. It is possible that some versions of NodeScan Server will be licensed on an annual basis which will include support and upgrades. The client will probably remain free.
Developer:
Nodescan
Website:
http://www.nodescan.com/
P2P Faq & tutorials:
Click here
