Hi
I'm not a technical person hence this question.

I run a small business and we're thinking of using Foldershare. Can someone
tell me if it's a true P2P system (as napster was), or if the data in your
folders is held on Microsoft servers.

I've read various threads which mention 3rd party servers, which suggests
the latter. But I've also see MS home/2008 servers mentioned.



I've looked at the Foldershare FAQs but they aren't clear.

Hope someone can help.
Thanks.
--
HB

As far as I know it is a p2p app... The data does not touch microsoft's
servers.

Mike

"HugoBeetle" wrote:

> Hi
> I'm not a technical person hence this question.
>
> I run a small business and we're thinking of using Foldershare. Can someone
> tell me if it's a true P2P system (as napster was), or if the data in your
> folders is held on Microsoft servers.
>
> I've read various threads which mention 3rd party servers, which suggests
> the latter. But I've also see MS home/2008 servers mentioned.
>
> I've looked at the Foldershare FAQs but they aren't clear.
>
> Hope someone can help.
> Thanks.
> --
> HB

On Sun, 16 Nov 2008 12:55:01 -0800, Mike <Mike@xxxxxx>
wrote:

> As far as I know it is a p2p app... The data does not touch microsoft's
> servers.

I believe that is only true if you have open port(s) to Accept Connections.
The data in FS library files is never stored on Microsoft servers but the
data must pass via their servers, like telephone exchanges, when a lack of
an open incoming port on at least one of two hosts trying to exchange files
prevents direct p2p connectivity between those hosts and so each host is
only able to connect to MS servers but not directly to the other host.

Tony

Thanks Both. Tony I'm not sure I understand what you are saying. Say I had
PC1 and PC2 and was using FS to keep files on both. You seem to be saying
that if PC2 was unavailable then the data would end up going through the MS
servers but where would it be going? Sorry if I am missing something obvious
here.
--
HB


"Anthony R. Gold" wrote:

> On Sun, 16 Nov 2008 12:55:01 -0800, Mike <Mike@xxxxxx>
> wrote:
>

> > As far as I know it is a p2p app... The data does not touch microsoft's
> > servers.

>
> I believe that is only true if you have open port(s) to Accept Connections.
> The data in FS library files is never stored on Microsoft servers but the
> data must pass via their servers, like telephone exchanges, when a lack of
> an open incoming port on at least one of two hosts trying to exchange files
> prevents direct p2p connectivity between those hosts and so each host is
> only able to connect to MS servers but not directly to the other host.
>
> Tony
>
>

On Tue, 18 Nov 2008 05:47:01 -0800, HugoBeetle
<HugoBeetle@xxxxxx> wrote:

> Thanks Both. Tony I'm not sure I understand what you are saying. Say I had
> PC1 and PC2 and was using FS to keep files on both. You seem to be saying
> that if PC2 was unavailable then the data would end up going through the MS
> servers but where would it be going? Sorry if I am missing something obvious
> here.

1) The files of a library are never stored by Microsoft and so no data can
ever flow unless two machines are online at the same time such that the one
with the newer file(s) is able to transfer them to machines that need them.

2) The issue of P2P is not where the files are stored but how they are
transferred. If one of the machines has an open port to allow incoming
connections then any two machines can establish mutual communications using
P2P, and that is faster. If the machines are unable to communicate using
P2P then they can still exchange files, but then the data must be relayed
by the Microsoft FS servers, and that will be slower.

This information is what I have gleaned from some years of FS use and I
believe it to be correct but I am not sure it is documented by Microsoft.

Tony

Thanks Tony, I think I get it now.
--
HB


"Anthony R. Gold" wrote:

> On Tue, 18 Nov 2008 05:47:01 -0800, HugoBeetle
> <HugoBeetle@xxxxxx> wrote:
>

> > Thanks Both. Tony I'm not sure I understand what you are saying. Say I had
> > PC1 and PC2 and was using FS to keep files on both. You seem to be saying
> > that if PC2 was unavailable then the data would end up going through the MS
> > servers but where would it be going? Sorry if I am missing something obvious
> > here.

>
> 1) The files of a library are never stored by Microsoft and so no data can
> ever flow unless two machines are online at the same time such that the one
> with the newer file(s) is able to transfer them to machines that need them.
>
> 2) The issue of P2P is not where the files are stored but how they are
> transferred. If one of the machines has an open port to allow incoming
> connections then any two machines can establish mutual communications using
> P2P, and that is faster. If the machines are unable to communicate using
> P2P then they can still exchange files, but then the data must be relayed
> by the Microsoft FS servers, and that will be slower.
>
> This information is what I have gleaned from some years of FS use and I
> believe it to be correct but I am not sure it is documented by Microsoft.
>
> Tony
>