Limewire with OS/2
------------------
Limewire 1.7c is so far the most comfortable Gnutella client program running
under OS/2 with Java 1.1.8. The Limewire versions 2.X presently offered on
the Limewire website require Java 1.3 wich you can get only, if you have
purchased eComStation or the IBM convenience pack. However, a detailed
description how to install it and get it running is missing. Therefore, I
have written this short description.

1. What is Gnutella ?
---------------------

Gnutella is a person to person (P2P) filesharing network without a central
server. Each computer in the network serves as a client and a server, hence
computers in the Gnutella network are called "servants". Since there is no
central server the Gnutella network cannot be closed by legal means in
contrast to Napster. There are also other decentralized P2P filesharing
networks beside Gnutella, but Gnutella is the oldest one. For a
comprehensive overview of all existing filesharing networks take a look at 

         http://www.gnutelliums.com/   and
         http://www.zeropaid.com/


2. Installation under OS/2
--------------------------
2.1 Software requirements: Java 1.1.8 or Java 1.3 and Swing

You need a working Java environment on your computer, for OS/2 this is Java
1.1.8 or higher (contrary to the statement found on the Limewire web pages
that at least Java 1.3 was required). Java 1.1.8 just works fine for me.

Then you probably need to install the Java GUI components, called "Swing",
which are used by Limewire. You can get Java Swing for OS/2 from here:
   
ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/software/asd/javaext/en_us/javainsr.exe

Unfortunately, this IBM Swing release has some flaws that are clearly
visible with Limewire. There is a bug freer Swing version available directly
from Sun. I have downloaded it and included the file swingall.jar from this
Sun distribution in here. Copy it into your directory X:\Java11\Swing and
make sure that X:\Java11\Swing\swingall.jar appears in your classpath.

It even may be possible not to install the IBM Swing distribution and just
create the Swing subdirectory, copy swingall.jar into it and add
X:\Java11\Swing\swingall.jar to your classpath to run Limewire. However, I
have not tested this, but it may be worth a trial.

    **************************************************************************
    WARNING: The file swingall.jar in this Limewire release works only (ONLY!)
    with Java 1.1.8. If you have Java 1.3 you must download a different Swing
    version from the IBM website !!!!
    **************************************************************************

2.2 Installation of Limewire

   1. Unpack all the files into a directory of your choice
   2. Edit the file "runlime2.cmd": such that the environment variable
      LIMEDIR points to the directory where limewire is installed
      (i.e. where you have unpacked the files):
           SET LIMEDIR=X:\<limewire directory>
      Presently this line reads
           SET LIMEDIR=C:\limewire
      Change it accordingly!
   3. Start runlime2.cmd and have fun !

   4. Only for the technically interested:
      Explanation of the syntax of the line starting LimeWire:
      Java starts with additional files for limewire in the CLASSPATH. The
      argument appearing for LimeWire 1.7c "com.limegroup.gnutella.gui.Main"
      is the main routine found in limwire.jar.

Tip: If you do not like the options menu of Limewire you can also manually
edit the file limewire.props in the Limewire directory. In particular, the
time intervals (i.e. time to live of a query) are accessible in this way only.

3. Further sources of information
---------------------------------

Good article about Limewire with OS/2: 
http://www.os2voice.org/VNL/past_issues/VNL0701H/vnewsf6.htm (English
version)
http://de.os2voice.org/VNL/past_issues_DE/VNL0701H/vnewsf6.htm (auf Deutsch)

Limewire home page:
http://www.limewire.com

If you have Java 1.3 for OS/2 you should also take a look at Phex, another
Java Gnutella client that runs under OS/2
http://www.ktb.net/~crenquis/phex2.html  (OS/2 specific Phex infos)
http://www.konrad-haenel.de              (Phex home page)
http://sourceforge.net/projects/phex/    (Phex developer page)


4. Disclaimer
-------------

All I did was adding 4 three files for running LimeWire under OS/2. I have
not changed or removed any file of the origininal Limewire distribution. I 
do not assume any liability for any damage that might be caused by
installing or running any of the software mentioned above.

Roland Reimers
rolandreimers@addcom.de


