Software Review: GigaTribe File Sharing Program

This might be a good program if they get the kinks worked out of it. I ran the gamut of problems in the time I spent with GigaTribe, from missing features to broken and misdirected links to full program crashes, to the point that I could no longer use the software on one system without it crashing on start-up. That said, if you're willing to put up with some headaches and a Web site and documentation with more than a few typos, it may be a the file-sharing solution you're looking for.

Traditionally, file sharers have looked to Web hosting, FTP, or torrent programs for swapping content online, often requiring a fair amount of technical know-how to work with effectively. Developer ShalSoft set out to bridge the gap and bring file-sharing to the not-so-tech-savvy masses. If the program worked as promised, that might actually have happened.

When you first fire it up, GigaTribe defaults to the EasyConnect service, which uses a go-between Internet server to process and direct your upload and download requests. This effectively eliminates the need to configure your router, firewall, or other security to get two accounts to recognize and work with each other. This is great for people with little knowledge of configuring networks, port forwarding, and the like. The downside is, EasyConnect apparently only works for the first 30 days, and after that, you either have to start paying for a subscription or get a lot smarter about network administration.

For instance, once EasyConnect expires, if you're not willing to pony up $5 per month or $30 per year (recurring), you'd better know what this means:

For LAN use…
PC1 : local IP =192.168.0.10 (Windows setting : configuration panel / network)
PC1 : TCP Port (step 1 of 2 during GigaTribe connection) = 3728. IP address : Automatic detection.
PC2 : local IP =192.168.0.20;
PC2 : TCP Port (step 1 of 2 during GigaTribe connection) = 3730. IP address : Automatic detection.

Router rules (NAT)
Rule 1:
external port=3728
internal port =3728
protocol = TCP
server IP = 192.168.0.10
Rule 2:
external port=3730
internal port =3730
protocol = TCP
server IP = 192.168.0.20

For Internet use…
You must modify your router settings so that your router accept incoming TCP connections from port 3728 towards the computer running GigaTribe.

Configuration example:
Public Port from : 3728 to 3728
Local Port From : 3728 to 3728
Protocol : TCP
Local Address / Server address : Local IP address of the computer running GigaTribe (192.168.1.10 for instance)

You get all that? Hardly something my mom could figure out just to send me photos from her vacation.

There are a number of other features missing or disabled prior to buying the Ultimate version, including multi-source downloads, limiting folder access to a specific group (default is everybody), choosing read/write authorization on shared folders, protecting shared folders with a password, downloading your own files via a Web browser, and getting support via e-mail. Once you start paying, it sounds like a pretty sweet P2P program.

Article Author: Mark Buckingham

Mark Buckingham is not only BC's Sci/Tech Editor-In-Geek, but also an avid freelance writer, gamer, techhead, reader, movie watcher, pianist, and hockey player.

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