ECMNet is a client/server package dedicated to factoring composite numbers.  It was originally developed by Tim Charron a number of years ago.

As GMP-ECM was upgraded the original ECMNet could not support many of its features, such as P+1 and P-1 factoring.  I took over from Tim because he was no longer interested in maintaining the software.

ECMNet works by setting up a central server that sends factoring work out to clients that connect to it.  The server tells each client what number to factor and the type of factoring work to do on the number.  The server will also tell the client the limits for B1 and the number of curves to run for the number.

The server manages the amount of factoring work done on each number so that it can increment B1 appropriately.  The server has the ability to send out e-mail when a factors are found.

In May 2011, I updated ECMNet to version 3.0.0.  The server is now multi-threaded and uses a MySQL database.  The old client is compatible with the new server, but I’m still working on getting the new client to work with the old server.

If any developers out there want to improve ECMNet, the source code is included with the distribution along with Windows executables and a makefile for other platforms, so feel to send those improvements back to me.  I make no guarantees to merge them with my source, but I’m fairly easy to work with.  I can be reached at rogue (at) wi.rr.com.