Metalink

Metalink is a Standard/open Framework for software of remote loading (Gestionnaire of remote loading S, customers BitTorrent, Web navigators, customers ftp, and software of P2P). To increase the flow, it stores the site of several files (ftp/HTTP/P2P) in only one file (a file .metalink). Thus each segment of the known as file can be downloaded at the same time several sources (one also speaks about remote loading segmented /acc éléré/multi-threadé). If one lays out of a connection Internet to High banc, that led often to a more reliable remote loading and more rapid that with a remote loading since only one waiter. There exist other functionalities such as the automatic checking of the Checksum when a remote loading is finished, or the automatic choice of OS and/or the language. The Metalinks files are also retro-compatible with the traditional bonds hypertexts by using the format http://URL#!metalink3!http://URLtoMetalink .

Metalink is extensible, and supports the listing of the checksums MD5 and SHA-1 aindi that the signatures PGP. In addition to the mirrors ftp, HTTP and Rsync, it supports also these protocols P2P: BitTorrent, Ed2k, and Magnet Link.

TorrentFreak (a forum relative to BitTorrent) described Metalink like this: " We have all considering these pages of remote loading where a list of mirrors HTTP, ftp and bittorrent are proposed. We only one of them among the list, but wouldn't this be chooses brilliant if we all could use them at the same time? Metalink is the solution. It functions thus, the file .metalink indicates to your manager remote loading where it can take the file, and connects to the various sources at the same time. "

downloadsquad describes this way: " Metalinks makes the pages of remote loading complex obsolete by replacing the long ones lists mirrors and the trackers BitTorrent by a simple file .metalink. As you already guessed, a file .metalink is a file which indicates to your manager remote loading the various places where it can download the file. The file itself takes the form of a standard structure XML and can contain an unlimited number of sources HTTP and ftp as well as of the trackers BitTorrent and ed2k of the bonds magnétiques."

Programs Customers

aria2 (LPG) is a program in line of order for Unix. It is a " utility of remote loading with high vitesse" who supports BitTorrent and Metalink (HTTP/FTP/BitTorrent).
FlashGot, an extension Firefox (LPG) which is integrated with many Managers of Remote loadings, it supports Metalink.
GetRight 6, a Manager of Remote loading for Windows, it supports Metalink.
Speed Download, a Manager of Remote loading for Mac, it supports Metalink since version 4.10.
WxDownload Fast (LPG) is a manager of remote loading for Mac/Unix/Windows which supports Metalink.

See for further details on their supports of Metalink and their other functionalities.

Use

actuellement, OpenOffice.org uses Metalinks to distribute its own office automation continuation.

Brixton Linux Action Group also uses it to distribute their ISO containing the distribution BLAG Linux and GNU. StartCom Enterprise Linux, Berry Linux, Ubuntu Christian Edition, and DesktopBSD also uses it to distribute their respective ISO.

Example of file .metalink

The files .metalinks are files text with the format XML.

example-md5-hash example-sha1-hash ftp://ftp.example1.com/example.ext ftp://ftp.example2.com/example.ext http://www.example1.com/example.ext http://www.example2.com/example.ext http://www.example3.com/example.ext http://www.ex.com/example.ext.torrent

References

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