OK - I *do* know that the whole Freenet architecture is dependent on
ephemeral storage, and the ability of nodes to purge older less popular
files.
But an idea came to me for how *some* files could be kept available
permanently.
The idea would require that some people anonymously volunteer to work as
'Freenet archivists'.
All this would require is:
1) For archivists - using an 'archive' program which copies retrieved keys
into a 'permanent cache' directory on their hard disk, and also maintains a
database of such keys.
This is simple - archivist is browsing, and thinks 'i feel this should be
permanently available'; (s)he then runs:
freenet_archive key_uri [-scomment]
2) For clients - anyone who requests a key and fails, can run an 'archive
request' client which simply writes an archive request to a keyindex:
freenet_archive_request key_uri
3) For archivists - run an 'archive server' program which regularly harvests
the 'archive request' keyindex and re-inserts any requested files which are
found on the archivist's permanent store, also logging such re-insertions to
another 'archive response' key index.
4) For clients - 'archive request' client can check the 'archive response'
key index (say over the last 2 days) and see if their request has attracted
a response:
freenet_archive_status
This won't guarantee permanence of all material, but it does give
individuals the power to guarantee that materials of their choice will
always be available within a (say) 48 hour window.
Summary - software required:
1) client - send archive request to key index, log this in local database
2) server - add files to archive, browse archive, prune archive
3) server - daemon - read archive requests, reinsert keys found in archive,
log successful reinsertions to an 'archive response' key index.
4) client - daemon which periodically peruses 'archive response' and seek
items previously logged to local database.
If no-one has any objection to this, I'd like to make it my next project
once FreeWeb goes beta.
If someone beats me to it, I'll support totally.
Suggestions - very welcome and appreciated.
Cheers
David
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