So – you’ve decided to share in the bounty of the internet and utilize P2P.

Should you use a Torrent client or a distributed hash file client like eMule/Kademlia?

Some of your peers will consider that Torrent rocks, others will tell you that eMule is the best.

Mostly it requires a decision from yourself. Torrent networks are mostly going underground and are becoming invitation only encrypted private virtual circuits (PVC’s).

Ergo, if you are a member of a large group, like a University or High school Alumni or work for a large corporation that has their own (cough cough in-house Torrent feeder), then Torrent is most probably the logical choice.

However, Torrent is specific to whatever is popular at the time and can not be depended upon as an endless historical file resource.

This is where the decision meter leans towards eMule that seems to retain at least one copy of every file on the network. Also, eMule clients appear to be on the network for substantially longer than torrent clients. Stability in client behaviour produces a stable filestore that is growing rapidly.

Me personally? Well, if I was to be honest, I would use Torrents for the big files, eMule for the educational content files (research papers, spreadsheet data etc.) and exchanging data (where delivery to multiple destinations was required) with friends, colleagues, researchers and family. However, I would ensure that my data was encrypted to ensure that no-one else could open it, who was not authorized to do so.

Many (legislators - mainly because of what lobbyists tell them - and non academic/geek persons) consider that P2P is merely a meme to “Rip-Off” the content creators. You and I and a growing number of others, know different.

Stay safe out there and be aware that every day, a myriad of Public Domain additions are made to the filebase.

Why not add to it yourself. That home movie - homework essay that receved an A- or pre-published dissertation could be the next big hit.......