# of files vs sources?
 

Hello,

I haven't found the answer for this from looking around this forum, but I'm a new user so I apologise in advance if I'm asking a dumb question.

I'm puzzled about the "number of identical files" statistic in the seach results window. Does having for example 8 identical files mean there are 8 sources for that file?

I often see a high "number of identical files" for a file after searching, but then when I go to download it it has only one source, or worse "not enough sources". Very frustrating :(

Any guidance would be very appreciated :)

I'm running Limewire 4.9.30 on Windows 2000 Pro, through a DSL connection.

-BM

Some of the files you see with multiple hosts are auto generated spam messages, or worse ... viruses. Always check if the file size is appropriate for what you are expecting to download. and be very wary of downloading anything with more that say 20 hosts.

The number you mentioned is as you say the number of hosts sharing an absolutelt identical file. You may well find more versions of the file as well, but they will be very slightly different., but from the listeners point of view, probably the same.

Okay... so if I see a file which has a reasonable file size for what it claims to be, and has say 5 identical files, then am I likely to have 5 sources for it? Or are 4 of them likely still to be spam?

I would ask if there's any way of filtering out the spam, but I think I know the answer to that already.

Thanks for the help, Only A Hobo. :)

-BM

Badgermushroom said: "so if I see a file which has a reasonable file size for what it claims to be, and has say 5 identical files, then am I likely to have 5 sources for it? Or are 4 of them likely still to be spam?"

This would be OK You could not have spam grouped together with a good file (afaik:))

As for filtering spam (and viruses) ... let's just say it's been worked on, either as a e-mail type spam filter or a size filter ... which has been discussed most recently in http://www.gnutellaforums.com/showth...ize+and+filter

which might interest you.