[Guide] BitTorrent Explained! The Complete Guide -=[DrOnA]=-

**Ð®ØnÃ** · #1 10-14-2008, 02:16 PM

Introduction

Bit torrent by definition is just a file transfer protocol. A Bit Torrent client is the application which uses that protocol. A list of clients can be found here. You can use BitTorrent to share and download any type of file you want.

First of all, you need a bit torrent client - I use µTorrent and Azureus.

BitTorrent Jargon & Language Explained

Next you need to understand the language and how it works. Here's a rough translation:

Seeder = the one(s) with the file
A seeder is uploading, to get a file you need at least 1 seed in the swarm

Leecher = the one(s) without the file (also known as a peer)
A leecher is downloading from a seeder (and most of the time is also uploading to other peers/leechers too)

Tracker = the thing that keeps track of who has what and what pieces
There are many trackers out there, some public and some private

Swarm = the group of computers involved with any one particular torrent.
The number of computers that the swarm contains is found by adding the number of seeds to the number of peers.

Ratio = the amount you have downloaded compared to the amount you have uploaded. Also referred to as your stats. If you use Bit Torrent you MUST upload/seed as much as you download/leech.

Reseed = asking someone to repost a torrent that has no seeds

Client = the program you use to download Bit Torrent's

How Does It Work?

Lets take soulseek to start with as that is a format most P2P users are familiar with. You have a file and I want it. I get in the queue and wait for the others in front of me to download it, then I get a turn. Needless to say, there can be some quite big queues!

Now lets look at how Bit Torrent works.

First of all, imagine I have a book, with 100 pages, and 10 people want it. I give 10 pages to each person, and between them they have the whole book. I can then drop out of the file exchange and leave them to copy bits between themselves until they all have the full book.

It works the same with files. The file being shared is broken up into smaller pieces. The tracker keeps track of who has what pieces and helps those looking for pieces to get them, while helping those with the pieces share them out to those looking.

I Have My Client Installed, What's next?

The files you download are .torrent files and they are tiny in size (just a few Kbs). The .torrent just contains information concerning what the file is, how many pieces it has and what tracker it's going through. When you click on a .torrent file, you then chose to open it with your bit torrent client (azureus). You then select your place to save it and your download will begin (hopefully).

In order to get a download - you need seed(ers). Sometimes the tracker might be down, in which case no one knows who else has the file and it doesn't work.

A download with lots of seeds and only a few peers will generally be quick, if you have lots of peers and no seeds it will generally be slow.

How Does BitTorrent Compare To Other P2P?

The main benefit of torrents is its versatility. Because BitTorrent is just a protocol, a way of sharing files, there is no restriction on the type of file you can share. It's popularity also means that you have a wide range of torrents available and the latest releases too.

The big differences with Torrents compared to other P2P networks are:

a) I don't have to give the whole file to each person to get it out there - I can give a bit to each person

b) Once I have given a bit out, it's availability has just increased, because someone else can then also give it out, and so on and so on. the speed of a torrent will generally get better as more and more people want it - unlike SoulSeek or other P2P apps where you just wait longer to get it!!

c) Torrents technically aren't illegal. After all, a torrent is just a tiny little file with no copyrighted content. It's a bit muddy water here though, as they can facilitate the transfer of copyrighted content.

If you want to know some sites to get torrents from I have got a few listed here.

How Do I Configure My Firewall For BitTorrent?

There are two types of Firewall, a Software Firewall and a Hardware Firewall, like a router for example. Both will need to be configured in order for you to use BitTorrent.

Why?

BitTorrent relies on two basic types of connection to share files, those made by other people asking you for something are called Incoming or Local Connection, and when you initiate a connection with someone else, you are making an Outgoing or Remote Connection.

However, a firewall will automatically block an incoming connection in case it is harmful. So in order to be able to accept BitTorrent files from other people, you need to tell your firewall to accept these connections.

How?

Hardware Firewalls and Routers

Check the Manual of the Hardware Firewall/Router for the settings.

Software Firewalls

A software firewall will work one of two ways, it will either imitate a hardware firewall and block all traffic on all ports unless told otherwise; or it will only allow specified applications access to the internet. The Windows XP firewall works on port configurations, and something like Zone Alarm works by granting programs access.

A guide for Windows Firewall

When using something like Zone Alarm, you just need to give your BitTorrent Client (for example Azureus) permission to access the internet. If you do use Azureus, then you will also have to give Java (C:\Program Files\Java\Build Version\Javaw.exe) access. Remember to give any subsequent Java updates access too!

What ports should I use?
The default ports are 6881-6889. But that does not mean to say that you have to or should use them. Some ISP's throttle bandwidth on these ports, and some trackers have banned them because of that. So choose 10 ports of your own (10 is enough) between 50,000 and 60,000. This is considered to be a safe zone and any 10 ports you choose should not already be in use.

In order to change the ports all you need to do is choose 10 ports. Now open them up in your router or firewall as covered above, and then change the settings in your client to reflect the new ports being used. Each client is different so I can't really go into detail here.

Some Important Things To Remember

IN ORDER TO KEEP THE TORRENT ALIVE AND ALLOW OTHERS TO DOWNLOAD YOU MUST CARRY ON SEEDING TILL YOU ACHIEVE ATLEAST AN 1:1 RATIO or MORE THAN THAT!!!

Once you have the file, it's no good just closing your client and forgetting about it. In order to allow it to be shared for others you MUST continue to seed. Most trackers keep an eye on your download to upload ratio and those just downloading and running get booted. You will not get far unless you heed this rule.

You are not invisible when you are in a swarm. Others, including copyright owners if they so wished, can see your IP when you are downloading or uploading a file. Learn more here.

If you use a torrent site which has a forum attached, take the time to say thanks to the poster of the torrent. It only takes a moment.

Torrent sites and torrents themselves die. They go up and down quicker than a whores draws. Just the nature of the beast. If no one is seeding, you can't have it. You can also only have what is on offer.

The speed at which you download is determined by things such as the Seed to Peer ratio, the seed(ers) upload bandwidth and of course your available download bandwidth. Try to download torrents that have lots of seeders and few peers in order to get faster speeds.

Please Reply to Appreciate

Source:bZk

**chinu_dali** · #2 10-14-2008, 05:00 PM

thanx.........

**tonmoygrocery** · #3 10-14-2008, 09:44 PM

Thank you so much.
You are great.

**chinu_dali** · #4 10-15-2008, 09:39 AM

i have a question..........how to put 10 ports in bittorrent?????

**Ð®ØnÃ** · #5 10-15-2008, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chinu_dali

i have a question..........how to put 10 ports in bittorrent?????

If you Use Utorrent then Goto options-->Preferences-->Connection-->Random Port
utorrent can automatically configure itself to a randomize selection for each torrent starts.
all you gotta do is to check the Box below Randomize Port each Start
I'll soon Post a Guide Regarding this Issue.