« March 31, 2004 | Main | April 02, 2004 »
April 01, 2004
Replacing FTP: The Peer Distributed Transfer Protocol (PDTP)
The Peer Distributed Transfer Protocol, or PDTP, is a project to define a replacement for the venerable FTP protocol. PDTP is similar to BitTorrent in the way it handles distributed streams, but also manages a directory hierarchy automatically and includes other interesting features such as metadata rich directory listings and support for file integrity validation through the use of DSS signatures. The project proposes three use cases for increasing scale. So what's wrong with BitTorrent? Here's a snippet from the FAQ:
As PDTP is fundamentally different from BitTorrent in several ways, it shouldn't be viewed as "reinventing the wheel". However, PDTP was designed after analyzing and learning from a number of BitTorrent's design and implementation problems.
BitTorrent places considerable logic in the client. The tracker is little more than a switchboard through which every client participating chaotically attempts to manage the transfer process. Because no one client ever has the "big picture", transfer rates are often suboptimal as the network of transfers is not logically organized by a central authority into an optimal configuration. Without centralized control, special hacks are required in order to improve transfer rates.
BitTorrent provides a means of transferring groups of files rather tha files within a hierarchy. Consequently, BitTorrent cannot act as a "drop-in" replacement for an HTTP or FTP server. While it would be possible to use a program like dnotify to autogenerate .torrent files for every file within a directory hierarchy, a subsequent problem with BitTorrent's design is encountered with the computational overhead of the protocol design.
Tracker communication in BitTorrent is handled over HTTP in a connectionless manner, which places significantly more demand on the server than a lightweight transactional protocol. Because of this, it becomes difficult for a single server to serve multiple "torrents" due to the resource usage of the BitTorrent tracker. While BitTorrent makes claims of "limitless scalability", anyone who has actually used it knows this isn't the case.
BitTorrent suffers another problem in that the only usable implementations are currently only available in Python. The primary problem with Python is its excessive resource usage, but other problems arise such as integration of the Python implementation into a native GUI frontend for a given platform, as well as the need to bundle the Python runtime with the BitTorrent client on most platforms as few deployed systems have a Python runtime available.From pdtp - FAQ
Referenced Thu Apr 01 2004 19:41:12 GMT-0700
The project is far from complete. In fact, at this point its mostly a collection of Sourceforge projects with little in the way of downloadable code. The project status page shows that there's still much to do. If you're a programmer, jump in and help. This is a project worthy of support. I have to say that if I never had to select a mirror again when downloading a large file, I wouldn't miss it at all.
07:43 PM | Recommend This | Print This
Bluetooth Better on the Mac
I've often wondered why more people weren't raving about Bluetooth when I found it so incredibly useful. I sync my contacts with my phone, use my phone for a wide-area networking device, and even have a Bluetooth headset for handsfree phone operation. I can use my phone as a slide show remote for my computer and even a remote control for iTunes that shows what song's playing. None of this was difficult or tricky, so what's the problem? This story in PCWorld.com gives a hint at why Bluetooth isn't more widely used. Windows just makes it too hard.
When it comes down to it, there are still too many seams showing in Bluetooth on Windows. Sure, if you're a savvy user you can make it work. But unless you're really phobic about a few cables, why spend the time? And in this case, the Mac mystique has some substance behind it. Setting up my whole Bluetooth network on the Mac was quick and painless from start to finish--and truly wireless, unlike the Logitech DiNovo set.From PCWorld.com - Mac Skeptic: Is Bluetooth Better on the Mac?
Referenced Thu Apr 01 2004 19:28:00 GMT-0700
07:29 PM | Recommend This | Print This
Sick and Tired of Doing Things the Hard Way
Jeremy Zawodny's switching.
08:55 AM | Recommend This | Print This
vSpring Capital Unveils its Inaugural v|100
The v|100 is officially known as the vSpring Capital Top 100 Venture Entrepreneurs and was conceived by vSpring as a tool to recognize the region's outstanding entrepreneurs and to support and promote collaborative partnering and mentoring among top entrepreneurs in the region. This is important to the Utah business community since lack of corporate leadership experience is one of the identified hurdles that Utah has to overcome to attract more venture capital. This list is the beginning of a group that can mentor new leaders and serve as management for new ventures. Members of the list have raised more than $1.8 billion in capital and formed companies leading to the creation of more than 7,000 jobs. The vast majority (more than 70 percent) has founded Utah-based businesses during the past 10 years.
"Those nominated to the v|100 have made a significant positive impact to the Utah economy and the quality of life for its people," said Scott Peterson, Ernst & Young's Pacific Northwest area assurance managing partner and the former managing partner of the Ernst & Young Salt Lake City office. "The v|100 is solid proof that Utah is not only a phenomenal incubator of innovative technologies and technology companies, but that it has a large pool of seasoned executives and technologists driving that success. It is likely they will continue to drive this trend, which makes it appropriate for them to be recognized in this way."From Connect :: Resource/Article :: vSpring Capital Unveils the Inaugural v|100
Referenced Thu Apr 01 2004 07:08:59 GMT-0700
The group was selected through a nomination process followed by a poll of those nominated wherein they selected their own top ten. I was honored to be among the group chosen.