Shareaza is a
Windows-based [multi]
Peer-to-Peer client which supports the
Gnutella,
Gnutella2[?],
eDonkey2000[?] &
BitTorrent network protocols. It is arguably the most feature rich P2P client out there. Its feature list is extensive, but includes:
- SHA1, MD5 & MD4[?] hashing with Tiger Tree[?] hashing verfication
- MAGNET URI[?]'s so you can link content on its networks anywhere on the web
- Security Manager to allow you to block IPs and different types of content by filtering out keywords
- Rich metadata support, search for all video by a certain director for example
- Easily preview media (uses a DivFix plug-in)
- Chat & browse other users
- Ability to skin Shareaza
- Supports many languages and allows users to easily translate it to another if it does not exist
In late 2002, Shareaza's founder introduced Gnutella2, a reworked version of Gnutella with many fundamental updates to the protocol, and added support for it to Shareaza. This drew a lot of criticism from other Gnutella developers, because Gnutella2 was developed without any outside help or conferral. However, the Gnutella2 network has been doing well so far despite the fact that it is only supported by Shareaza. (Note: Now supported by MLDonkey) Opponents to the name of Gnutella2 refer to it as Mike's Protocol[?], or MP for short.