Hey Folks - Here is the information that I found about Akamai - it IS an application. I pasted the info below from the Readme Text file in the Akamai applications folder that is stored on my computer. The first paragraph explains what it does etc.
** Akamai NetSession Interface
**
Copyright (c) 2009 Akamai Technologies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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Overview
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This file describes the Akamai NetSession Interface.
The Akamai NetSession Interface runs as a service to manage downloads and to
let you manage the download process. It was installed on your computer when you
downloaded content that uses the service to provide secure, high integrity
downloads of large files.
The NetSession Interface supports downloading from a central source and between
peers. When peer-downloading is enabled, your computer can serve as an upload
source for other computers -- without adverse impacts to your computing.
Peer-to-peer downloading can provide faster, more effective downloads.
The NetSession Interface contains no adware or spyware, is safe and secure,
uses minimal resources, and provides you the ability to manage and control its
actions, including the ability to uninstall it if you do not want it on your
computer.
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How It Works
-----------------
The NetSession Interface does not have a noticeable desktop presence during
downloads, since its work is integrated into the sites or applications that use
the service.
However, there are two interfaces you can use to manage downloads and the
interface itself: AdminTool and a Control Panel extension.
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AdminTool and the NetSession Installation Folder
-------------------------------------------------------------------
AdminTool is a command-line utility used to get information about the current
NetSession download activities, to stop or start download sessions, clear the
download cache of all downloads, and uninstall the NetSession Interface.
To see all the commands available to you with AdminTool:
1) Go to the command line of your computer. You can do this as follows:
On Windows, select Command Prompt from the Start menu, OR...
Run on the Start menu, type "cmd" into the Open text box, then click OK.
On Macintosh, in the Application -> Utilities folder, double-left click
Terminal.
2) Go to the Akamai NetSession Interface installation folder.
The installation folder location depends on your configuration.
The normal location for the directory is:
On Windows: C:\Program Files\Common Files\Akamai\
On Macintosh: /Applications/Akamai/
3) Type the command
AdminTool help
4) Press the Enter (Return) key
All AdminTool commands are run in the same way as AdminTool help in steps 3)
and 4).
For example, to see a list of applications using NetSession Interface, type
this command and follow it by pressing the Enter or Return key:
AdminTool listapps
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Windows Control Panel / Macintosh System Preferences Extension
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----
This extension is available ONLY IF you agreed through an end user license
agreement to use your computer for NetSession uploads as well as downloads.
Otherwise, the extensions are not installed. It allows you to turn on or off
your upload file sharing, or to pause sharing for a number of hours.
When installed, the extensions are available:
On the Windows Control Panel:
Akamai NetSession Interface Control Panel.
On the Mac, on the System Preferences pane:
under Other --> Akamai
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Uninstalling
---------------
Before you uninstall, please note: If you uninstall the service, you will
delete files downloaded to the cache folders under the installation folders. If
you don't want to delete those files, copy or move them to a different folder.
If you do not have a serious need to uninstall the service, it may be better
not to, since other downloads may require NetSession later.
Also, the Akamai NetSession Interface is a shared network library that may be
used by multiple applications. It will uninstall correctly only when other
applications using the interface are uninstalled. Other applications may not
perform correctly if they look for but do not find the NetSession Interface.
For that reason, you should not simply delete the NetSession files. You can use
the "AdminTool listapps" command described above to see a list of applications
using the service.
Windows Uninstall
-----------------------
The simplest and preferred method is to use the Add or Remove Programs
application.
1) In the Windows Control Panel, run Add or Remove Programs.
2) Select Akamai NetSession Interface
3) Click Change/Remove, then click Yes to confirm your choice.
Windows Alternate Method
----------------------------------
Alternatively, you may open Windows Explorer, go to the installation folder,
then double-click uninstall.exe.
Macintosh Uninstall
------------------------
The simplest and preferred method is to use the Finder to go to the NetSession installation
folder described above, then double-click the uninstaller app. Confirm your decision.
Macintosh Alternative Methods
-----------------------------------
There are two alternative uninstall methods.
The first alternative method also works in Windows, but the methods listed in the Windows section are simpler and
are preferred for that system.
1) As described in the "AdminTool" section above, go to the command line, and
then go to the NetSession installation folder.
2) Type the command:
AdminTool uninstall -force
3) Press the Enter (Return) key to complete the command.
The Launch Unload Macintosh Alternative
----------------------------------------
This alternative method may be used, for example, if you deleted AdminTool
without running the AdminTool uninstall steps described just above. This
uninstall involves required steps of manually stopping the client, then
removing the installation directory, the automatic startup script, and the
preferences panel.
1) As described in the "AdminTool" section above, go to the command line.
2) Type the following lines, and after typing each line, press the Enter
(Return) key to complete the command:
launchctl unload ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.akamai.client.plist
rm -rf /Applications/Akamai
rm -rf ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.akamai.client.plist
rm -rf ~/Library/PreferencePanes/AkamaiNetSession.prefPane
3) If the NetSession client isn't stopped when you have gone through these
steps, restart your computer to complete the operation.
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Further Support & Information
--------------------------------------
For a FAQ, a user "Bill of Rights" and privacy policy, as well as technical
overview and design principles, visit our Web site at:
http://www.akamai.com/client
Thank you for using Akamai NetSession Interface.
Akamai Technologies, Inc.
http://www.akamai.com
**
