any problems allowing earlier versions as hosts?
 

Hi, now that LimeWire added the host "client version" in the connections tab, I notice that most people are using older versions of limewire. Are there any advantages to only allowing 2.4.x hosts (speed, number of files)?

Similarly to "dividend's post," are there reasons to avoid "alternate" clients, like gnucleus, or even aqualime/free limewires/other self-compiled versions?

I see no reasons for not allowing connections to different peers: AquaLime, Gnucleus, Phex, BearShare (as ultrapeer or regular 0.6 peer). Gnutella has evolved with different implementations, so why kill them? Don't limit your options ;) . Of course some versions are a plain copy of LimeWire CSV with little more work (not any of the ones that I mention :) ), but that's another question...

For cryin out loud. When I got the source and changed it around to make AquaLime, I made sure to make the netcode worse, so yeah, disconnect all AquaLime's that connect to you. I'll just have to change it back so it gives LimeWire as the vendor, then you'll never know muahaha :rolleyes:

Seriously, have you ever seen an AquaLime in the connections tab? I never have, except when I've connected to myself with another client/version of LimeWire. I'm still waiting for my first sighting :D

I'm asking more if you lose the ability to search some files, or swarm downloads if you connect to version 1.8 for example.

Secondarily, I'm wondering if connecting to vendors named "Limewire*version*" or Gnucleus is safe/maintains all features.

Yes I've seen aqualime several times (does it say the version?).

AquaLime
 

I saw AquaLime in my connections tab for the first time yesterday.

Actually I often get better results with a Gnucleus 1.8.2 Ultrapeer than with a LimeWire one. Lower bandwidth consumption too. And AFAIK all Ultrapeer enabled clients will have the same network features, though I could be wrong.

Yes, AquaLime does give the version number. I still haven't seen it in the wild though myself :(

Agreed about Gnucleus supernodes. The number of hosts it reports is smaller, but I get just as many search results from them, with lower bandwidth (due possibly in part to the fact that they don't report every single client that is accessible from them)

Yesterday, i was conencted to 3 Gnucleus supernodes, and nothing else. Total # of files reported was 1800. Pretty small. I did a search for 'Weezer' though, and got 1200 hits. What are the chances that 2/3ds of all files shared were weezer files? :)

Yeah, long story short, it seems they save bandwidth by not reporting total connected hosts accurately, so I wouldn't disconnect from them at any rate. Dunno about older LimeWire versions though..

Since the protocol should be the same (I refer to the ultrapeer protocol) there is no problem connecting to Gnucleus, Aqua or Lime (Aqua is made from the same source as Lime, but with some enhancements; BTW, MamiyaOtaru is who makes these versions, and he is doing a great job :) ).

Lately I have seen more connections to Gnucleus ultrapeers, and I get the same search results. The only difference is that if you connect to an "old" peer without ultrapeer protocol (Lime 1.9 or earliear, Phex -if they don't have the ultrapeer yet-, and some others) you'll need more bandwidth, since the Gnut/0.6 protocol uses more bandwith, but there isn't a real reason to ban them (IMO).

thanks, I think I'm gathering a good answer :)