Eiskaltdcpp
Version: Web: http://bit.ly/eiskaltdcpp
For years file sharing has been one of the core elements of what people do on the internet, and it’s resulted in versatile technologies for getting in touch and sharing something. Together with BitTorrent, Direct Connect (DC) is one of the most recognised and widely used methods.
DC is a peer-to-peer file-sharing protocol where users connect to a centralised hub and download files directly from each other. When combined with IRC-like chat, it can form the foundations of alternative social networking and is primarily used within local communities as the download speed is higher when two users physically reside in the same area.
Eiskaltdcpp is a contemporary and feature-rich DC client, and a successor to the once famous Valknut. Under the hood Eiskaltdcpp supports DC and ADC (advanced DC) protocols. It runs as a daemon with a connecting interface. It can also download files in several streams; automatically recognise a router’s UPnP settings; auto-update an external IP address via DynDNS and block spam.
The application’s exterior exists in two versions: GTK2- and Qt4- based, but we found the Qt4 version looks and feels better under Gnome or Unity. To start using it you’ll need to set your user name, default Downloads directory and other essentials in the Preferences window. If you’re behind a router, you must specify TCP and UDP ports that are forwarded to your local network under the Connections section and finally select something that you want to share under the Sharing section. Certain hubs may require a minimum amount of shared data in order to connect to them, often something like 3-10GBs. As always, take care over the legal status of your shared files, don’t share commercial software or copyrighted content. After that press the ‘Quick Connect’ button on the toolbar and enter the name of the hub. There are hundreds of public hubs that you can easily find with a simple Google search. Once connected, read the header in the chat panel, as it often contains instructions to register on the hub with your username.
“A feature-rich DC client, and a successor to the famous Valknut.”