> Hi, I downloaded freenet yesterday and have one big comment about usability. > > It appears that I'm not connected to the freenet network. Is there something I have to do? I > didn't find anything on the FAQ and would have thought this would have been the most > asked question about use.
If you've installed the freenet software (known as a "freenet node"), and it is running, then you are "connected to the freenet network". Actually it's worth pointing out that there is no "freenet network" as such and that freenet operates directly over the existing internet infrastructure. If you are running a freenet node then this means you are able to insert data into and retrieve data from freenet. This is achieved by your freenet node contacting other freenet nodes. Your node will only contact other nodes directly if you request to retrieve data from freenet. As an example starting point, if you fire up a web browser and point it to http://localhost:8888 (or in windows double clicking on the rabbit icon will do this automatically for you), and scroll to the bottom of the page you will see some 'bookmarks'. Each of these links takes you to a webpage stored within freenet (you will see the links have addresses like "http://127.0.0.1:8888/SSK%40rBjVda8pC-Kq04jUurIAb8IzAGcPAgM/TFE//"; - this is what a browser uses to access data from freenet, every piece of data in freenet is uniquely identified by what's known as a 'key' - you can think of it as an address within freenet. In the above case the freenet key is the "SSK%40rBjVda8pC-Kq04jUurIAb8IzAGcPAgM/TFE//" part) One of these bookmarks takes you to "The Freedom Engine", a website within freenet (a "freesite") that itself contains links to lots of other freesites. You can start browsing for things from there. Alternatively if you already know the freenet key for the information you are looking for, you can enter it into the box labelled "Request Freesite by URI" on the initial gateway page when you first fired up the webpage. > The open connections page on the web interface is not listing connections. I'm an advanced > computer user and have no idea how to get started using freenet. If the software's running, you can start using freenet! You'll only see *active* connections on the "open connections" page - active connections are due to you requesting data from freenet, or from other freenet nodes contacting your node. If you've only just installed your freenet software, other freenet nodes will not yet know about the existence of yours so will not try contacting you! By requesting data from freenet, other freenet nodes get to know about your nodes existence and you should start seeing connections being formed. You can easily request data from freenet without any 'open connections' - requesting the data will naturally open up connections as required. > E.g. An example key to search for should be given so that I can download something, > anything, to see if it works. Good thinking. An example key is [EMAIL PROTECTED] > I think freenet is a great idea. If you want it to take off users should be able to know that > they are connected to the freenet network and be able to try and download something right > after installation. That's the intention behind the "bookmarks" links on the "Freenet: Web Interface" page. Informing users that they are "connected to the freenet network" is more about straightening a user misconception. If the Web Interface page loads, and one or the freesites loads if you click on its bookmark link, then freenet is up and running. Hope this all helps, dave _______________________________________________ support mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://hawk.freenetproject.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/support
