LUSerNet
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| LUSerNet | |
| Developer: | bramp |
|---|---|
| Latest release: | 1.2 / 2002 |
| OS: | Windows |
| Use: | LAN Peer-to-peer |
| License: | Free |
| Website: | bramp.34sp.com |
LUSerNet (pronounced Loser Net, roughly standing for Lancaster University Student Network) is a free peer-to-peer package for use on local area networks, developed between the end of 2001 and late 2002 by a Lancaster University first year Computer Science student known as 'bramp'[1]. Following the sudden and massive popularity of the program, the University's network system was brought to near collapse, and forced the network administrators to completely redevelop the network to cope with the program, earning the program cult status. It is now being used in other universities than Lancaster, and has even spread to America.
Contents |
[edit] Concept
bramp developed LUSerNet as a solution to the lack of peer-to-peer systems available to students at Lancaster, Lancashire, UK. Primarily the project was born out of boredom, and bramp and a fellow student put together the first version with the intention of only their immediate friends using it. The program allowed users to search through the content of other user's PCs and download the files over the local area network, in much the same way a normal peer-to-peer system works. The program was simplistic and unobtrusive, and offered a simple and easy way to share files.
[edit] Initial Success
The knowledge of LUSerNet spread quickly through the University, and within months vast proportions of the 10,000 strong student population were using it. Buoyed on by this success, bramp developed further versions of the software, adding new functionality and making the program more secure. Unfortunately for the network administrators at Lancaster University, working under the name ISS, the thousands of students downloading terabytes of data completely stalled the network. ISS reacted quickly, but found it was unable to halt the flow of the data without crippling the network's usability themselves.
[edit] University response
Eventually, ISS applied for massively increased funding to install a new system to cope with the program, and after finally receiving it, proceeded to completely redesign the network from the base up. Unable to completely eradicate LUSerNet's use, they split the university into many smaller, independent networks, segregating the students from all but their closest neighbours. By having fewer people to share with, usage fell dramatically over the years, and in 2006 supports a fraction of the users it once had.
Ironically, due to the devastation LUSerNet caused, Lancaster University was able to afford a state of the art local area network, with unparalleled security, surveillance and provides 100Mbps access to over 20,000 individual work stations on campus, multiple residences off campus and a collection of local schools and colleges.
bramp, who never technically broke any of the University's rules of the time, remains at Lancaster University, and is currently reading for a PHD.
[edit] Legacy
The program has earned cult status at Lancaster University, and is still widely used, despite it's now limited effectiveness. Both ISS and the Lancaster University Student Union have released statements regarding its use[2], encouraging users against it. In one of the final versions, Bramp made the program operational on all LAN types, not just Lancaster, so the program has spread beyond the University. As such, references that LUSerNet has begun to be used across other Universities have started to appear.[3]
