The Concept of UseNet

UseNet is the oldest used P2P network, and is still widespread until this day. The idea started at Duke University by the graduate students Tom Truscott and Jim Ellis, and was launched in the year 1980. Experiments lasted from year 1979-1980. UseNet first started as a post (or news) network.

Users could read and post messages from/to one or more categories, known as newsgroups. The idea was similar to the forums we know today, but a lot more primitive. The network was launched over a decade before the World Wide Web was avaiable to the public.

Nowadays, UseNet is a lot different from what it was like 25 years ago. It is now a large source for illegal downloads like warez, movies and games. Most UseNet servers store hundreds of terabytes of files. There are many sites that deal with the UseNet network, but the most trusted are listed below.

1. GigaNews

2. UseNet

3. UseNext

UseNet sites require subscription fees that are payed monthly, and increase in price according to gigabytes transferred.

The UseNet network uses a very complex server chain, you can see how it works here.

There is a site that still hosts UseNet archives dating back to May 1981. This site was originally named DejaNews, but was purchased by Google in 2001. The site is now called Google Groups.

I hope you learned something new, and I'll be happy to answer your questions. Stay tuned for more great posts on P2P Heaven!

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