What Was OpenNAP?
OpenNAP was an Open Source implementation of the original Napster P2P network protocol. OpenNAP was created to replace Napster's network while that application was being shut down due to legal pressure. First released in the year 2000, the original WinMX application was just one of several clients that connected to this OpenNAP network.What Happened to OpenNAP?
Like Napster, OpenNAP also faced much legal pressure from the music industry. Most servers that powered OpenNAP were shut down in 2001, permanently crippling this network.What Is WPNP?
Technically speaking, WinMX did not become its own P2P network until the year 2001. Faced with the de facto OpenNAP shutdown, the owners of the WinMX client created their own network protocol called WPNP (WinMX Peer Network Protocol) and released new versions of the client to support it. When users upgraded their client, they automatically switched to the new WinMX (WPNP) network.Why Was WinMX So Popular?
Numerous other P2P networks competed with WinMX for popularity, yet WinMX built a large base. At its peak in 2002, generally accepted estimates show WinMX regularly servicing more than 1 million users.WinMX users developed a strong sense of community and social connection. They frequently used chat rooms to discuss their network and file swapping issues.
Over the years, the WinMX client also remained very simple and easy to use. More technically-inclined file swappers disdained WinMX's lack of sophistication, yet WinMX fit a mainstream audience who weren't interested in change and advanced features.
Why Did WinMX Decline?
Unfortunately, the technology behind the WinMX network eventually fell behind the pace of developments in P2P networking in two key respects.First, the WinMX system sometimes forced users to wait in a queue for their downloads to complete. Impatient users migrated to other networks that alleviated this wait through more intelligent multi-source downloads and other techniques.
Additionally, the WinMX system did not enforce a reasonable balance of downloads against uploads. Therefore, some users failed to offer any files for sharing, reducing the number of titles available on the service.
Where Is WinMX Today?
The original owners of WinMX shut down the winmx.com Web site in September, 2005 due to legal pressure. However, a true P2P network cannot be shut down through any one server, and WinMX remains operational today.Next > Status of the WinMX Network
