Ares Galaxy is an open source peer-to-peer file sharing program for Microsoft Windows. It is written in Delphi. Proponents for the software claim that it is able to download quickly, has a better and more complete search function than other file-sharing programs.

The Ares Network

Ares development began in the middle of 2002 and was originally operating on the Gnutella network. Six months later, it switched to its own network comprising the leaves-and-supernodes p2p architecture. Its protocol is more difficult to identify than other popular P2P programs. As a result Ares is sometimes the only P2P client that functions on restricted networks, such as some university campuses. However, it is not very hard to block, and many organizations are now doing so. From version 1.9.0, data sharing was enabled between two peers behind a firewall. This may be due to mediating peers. The Ares network is largely free from false and corrupt files unlike others like FastTrack. However, some users report that reliability of and difficulty in establishing connections can be erratic. From version 1.9.4, Ares included support for the BitTorrent protocol.

Hashlinks

Ares has "hashlinks" functionality. Ares is able to search for peers with files pertaining to a hash and download from them. Some sites have begun to post verified Ares hashlinks. Some hashlinks can be decrypted and encrypted online. A website that supports Chat Channel hashlink encryption and Chat channel hashlink decryption can be found on http://www.devilworks.co.uk/hashlink

SHOUTcast

From version 1.9.9, Ares Galaxy has an experimental support for the SHOUTcast internet radio.

Standalone chat software

There have been a few releases of third party programs that can act solely as a chat client or server on the Ares network. The most famous of these third party chat programs is thought to be Arca Eclipse, an independent Ares Chat Server that doesn't require the original Ares at all. Ares chat servers are thought to have a massive amount of Remote Admins. These remote admins connect to the built in ARCA protocol. This allows users to have moderators other than themselves in the Ares chat room. But as of version 2.0.0, the ARCA protocol is no longer supported leaving all current remote admins rendered useless. This is because of a total rewrite of the ares chat server, with its own built in admin system it can almost manage itself. Although there are still some chat servers out there like Arca Eclipse, some are also being developed.

There have also been a lot of stand alone chat clients coming out recently. A feature rich Ares chat client that has a built in channel bot, and gets the channel list, and a lot more. Ares users also have the privilege to host their own chat rooms.

Alternatives

The following stand-alone alternative clients are known to connect with the Ares network:

Warez P2P (development of an Ares compatible version has been discontinued)

FilePipe and KCeasy connect to the Ares network, in addition to OpenFT and Gnutella.

FileCroc connects to the Ares network and the BitTorrent network.

iGotcha! connects to the Ares chat network and is designed for Mac OS X.

Poisoned, a Mac OS X client

In addition, a giFT-Ares plug-in for giFT has been released to give access the Ares network. However, there has been problems with the plugin regarding certain issues like connecting to the network.

Awards

Ares has been reviewed and awarded in several magazines and websites, some of them are:

Softpedia Pick

Uptodown Editors' Choice

Brothersoft 5 stars