Teach me about torrents, please!!!

[pizzaman]

This is the first time I use bittorrent, and it's going slow! I have to download a 4.3 GB file and it says it will take 20 days. The KB/s was at ten before, but now is at zero. How do I make it go faster?

[Kurt]

I have some suggestions that I could PM to you, if you want, but I'd have to know the specifics of the file. I.E. what the hell it actually is

[pizzaman]

I have some suggestions that I could PM to you, if you want, but I'd have to know the specifics of the file. I.E. what the hell it actually is
Umm... Ok I guess. I don't really know what to send you, but I'll PM you something.

[Kurt]

Bittorent is a crappy client anyway, even if it was revolutionary at the time.

[Mjshl2]

Umm, not really. Bittorrents speed all depends on a couple things, First how many people are seeding the file youve gotten, and 2nd what speed youve set it to which is suppose to be the equivalent of your actual internet speed. Ive seen files dl at insane speeds before so like I said it depends on your seeders and stuff.

[Kurt]

I was talking about the CLIENT bittorrent, not the filesharing system of the same name. I have some issues with the client, the foremost of which is that it has outdated trackers. I suggested Azureus, which works well for me :D I have Charter cable and I commonly get speeds of 140-240 Kbps with well seeded .torrent files, which is rediculously fast.

[Fierce Deity]

The BitTorrent Client, known as BitTorrent, sucks.

I, myself, use a different one. I PMed you a link Pizzaman. It goes at about 60 or 70kb/s if you have cable internet, as opposed to the 0-5kb/s that BitTorrent has, lol....

[dtfreak05]

i use uTorrent, and the speed fluctuates. i was downloading a 750 MB file, and at times it would be less than 5kbps, and at others it would be close to 100.just let it run, and it might change. but yeah if you are using bittorent i suggest a switch. utorrent is very small and unobtrusive.

[psilonaut]

Like Kurt mentioned I would use azereus. Excellent client program. And it pretty much auto-configures itself through a router.

You can have slow speeds for a number of reasons.
-Not enough seeds/peers
-Not receiving credit for upload due to misconfigured ports
-Your ISP could be throttling your .torrent ports (I know that several large ISPs in Canada do this)

[pizzaman]

Like Kurt mentioned I would use azereus. Excellent client program. And it pretty much auto-configures itself through a router.

You can have slow speeds for a number of reasons.
-Not enough seeds/peers
-Not receiving credit for upload due to misconfigured ports
-Your ISP could be throttling your .torrent ports (I know that several large ISPs in Canada do this)
Yes, I have a firewall problem all the time. And some times I have a DHT prblem or something like that.
I think if I can forward a port, I can fix it. But, unfortunately, I'm not really what you would call an 'expert' on this stuff, if you know what I mean.

[chaos master]

Can anyone school me in the arts or torrenting? I want to know about seeding and ratio and the like! Is there anyone out there, because it's getting harder and harder to breathe! Any help would be hot, though. ;)

[pizzaman]

Can anyone school me in the arts or torrenting? I want to know about seeding and ratio and the like! Is there anyone out there, because it's getting harder and harder to breathe! Any help would be hot, though. ;)
Well the more you upload, the better ratio you'll have.

[chaos master]

Well the more you upload, the better ratio you'll have.
How are you supposed to upload if you have nothing to upload? And what is seeding? does it help ratio?

[pizzaman]

How are you supposed to upload if you have nothing to upload? And what is seeding? does it help ratio?
Seeding is uploading the file you downloaded. For example, if you download an item, when your done, you seed it. You don't have to, but it'll make your ratio better. Also, seeders make the download faster. The more seeders, the faster the download goes.

[Kurt]

Hmm. What do you want to know about torrents, anyway, and what for?

Seeding, which is the opposite of leeching (I.E. gives other users pieces of the file that YOU have, instead of vice versa) helps your ratio. You should maintain a ratio of at least 1(seeding):1(leeching) at all times.

[pizzaman]

Hmm. What do you want to know about torrents, anyway, and what for?

Seeding, which is the opposite of leeching (I.E. gives other users pieces of the file that YOU have, instead of vice versa) helps your ratio. You should maintain a ratio of at least 1(seeding):1(leeching) at all times.
What is a good ratio?

[Kurt]

1:1 is the standard, but I try to keep mine at 2:1 or above.

[Kurt]

By the way, what torrent client are you using?

[pizzaman]

1:1 is the standard, but I try to keep mine at 2:1 or above.
The better the ratio, the faster you download, right?

[Kurt]

No, but if people check your ratio with Azureus or Bitcomet (the two most used clients, in that order) and don't like what they see, they can ban you from from their torrents. You can still get pieces of the file from seeders who haven't banned you, but the person who bans you's files will be unreachable, making the download MUCH slower. There are lots of autobanning plugins out there that do this automatically if your ratio is under 1:1, so you'd best keep it there or above. So yeah, it generally helps you download faster, but in a different way.

[chaos master]

How long do you have to seed to get 1 unit of ratio? What is the 'health' of a torrent? does it have to do with ratio? I want to know because I might join Underground gaming soon.

[Kurt]

There is no "how long do I have to seed", it's "how many bytes do I have to seed". You need to seed exactly the same number of bytes as you leeched, or more.

"Health" is the torrent's number of leechers compared to it's seeders. The higher health, the faster the download should go, because there are more seeders available. The lower the health, the higher the seeders, and the slower the download speed. If a torrent is at 100% health, that means that there are exactly the same number of seeders and leechers.

It's a lot to take in at once, but it makes sense after a little bit.

[Kurt]

Is this thread dead? :sleep:

[chaos master]

Is this thread dead? :sleep:
Is that all there is to know about torrents?

[Mjshl2]

I never seed hehe. Seeding annoys me. I just want the damn file. Most everything I set out to find I end up getting. And yes theres a bit of info you should know, Dont ever download Music or Movies from any Bit Torrent Site.
When you use Bit Torrent your IP is free for anyone to see. People have been busted that way. I only use Bit Torrent for games and such. Tv Shows also.

[chaos master]

Don't you havve to seed to keep from getting banned? It wouldn't be so bad to seed if I get a nice ratio. If I ever get highspeed internet, then torrenting would be much better for me.

[Kurt]

CM, not that many people ban on small/old files. But if you're downloading a large or brand new file and you have a bad ratio, you're likely to get banned. Also, seeding is a way of saying "thanks". Why download something from the community and give nothing in return? That's sort of mean, don't you think?

Yeah, torrenting is somewhat useless without DSL or cable.

[pizzaman]

Don't you havve to seed to keep from getting banned? It wouldn't be so bad to seed if I get a nice ratio. If I ever get highspeed internet, then torrenting would be much better for me.
I just checked underground gamer, and their ban ratio is you have to be at least above .3 if you have downloaded 20 GB.

[Kurt]

Underground gamer is very lax on leechers. I'm talking about people who UPLOAD the files indivudually. Many of them have banning programs, and I know this from experience. Ever wonder why your file is going so slow? One of the seeders/uploaders banned you.

Not seeding is also bad in the form of that if you do it, you're a douchebag.

[Mjshl2]

I guess im a douchbag then, because I never seed and dont plan on doing so anytime soon hehe. Theres some files that have gone slow for me but not that often. Im still able to find most everything and get it.

[pizzaman]

What do you guys think is average speed for torrents.

[Kurt]

There is none, really. And Mjishl2, not seeding is akin to mooching off friends and giving nothing back. You're expecting something for free, and you should give a little back, no matter how stupid it seems. Not seeding not only means you're a douchebag, it means you're a selfish douchebag.

Of course, depending your ego size, you may not care.

[Mjshl2]

Thats the problem I dont care. Its not really an Ego thing, its more that im just selfish. Besides if someone wants something bad enough to try an download it from a Torrent, they will get it whether I seed or not.

[Kurt]

You just contradicted yourself.
http://www.answers.com/topic/selfishness

"The quality or state of being selfish; exclusive regard to one's own interest or happiness; that supreme self-love or self-preference which leads a person to direct his purposes to the advancement of his own interest, power, or happiness, without regarding those of others."

"Concern only for oneself: egocentricity (http://www.answers.com/main/ntquery;jsessionid=10f96dij18l3j?tname=egocentrici ty&sbid=lc06b), egocentrism (http://www.answers.com/main/ntquery;jsessionid=10f96dij18l3j?tname=egocentrism&sbid=lc06b), egoism (http://www.answers.com/main/ntquery;jsessionid=10f96dij18l3j?tname=egoism&sbid=lc06b), egomania (http://www.answers.com/main/ntquery;jsessionid=10f96dij18l3j?tname=egomania&sbid=lc06b), self-absorption (http://www.answers.com/main/ntquery;jsessionid=10f96dij18l3j?tname=self-absorption&sbid=lc06b), self-centeredness (http://www.answers.com/main/ntquery;jsessionid=10f96dij18l3j?tname=self-centeredness&sbid=lc06b), self-involvement (http://www.answers.com/main/ntquery;jsessionid=10f96dij18l3j?tname=self-involvement&sbid=lc06b). See self/other (http://www.answers.com/main/ntquery;jsessionid=10f96dij18l3j?tname=self-other&sbid=lc06b)."

How people can reasonlessly put themselves above others and refuse to give things in return for what they've taken confuses me to no end. I mean, I know there are human sacks of lameness like that out there, but how they can justify being so stupid completely baffles me.

[Iconoclast]

There is none, really. And Mjishl2, not seeding is akin to mooching off friends and giving nothing back. You're expecting something for free, and you should give a little back, no matter how stupid it seems. Not seeding not only means you're a douchebag, it means you're a selfish douchebag.

Of course, depending your ego size, you may not care.Holey moley.

Well, not knowing what a torrent even is, I have nothing on-topic to say.

[Kurt]

Hope I didn't scare the guy off. But dude, that is just so rude. Seed.

[Fierce Deity]

Can you get in trouble from downloading torrents normally via BitComet/Azureus? I know if you use Limewire and don't share, you'll be fine. Is there a torrent equivalent?

[Kurt]

I have no idea what you're talking about. By "normally" do you mean "illegally"? If so, then yes, it is a potential risk factor.

[Fierce Deity]

I have no idea what you're talking about. By "normally" do you mean "illegally"? If so, then yes, it is a potential risk factor.
I mean by not changing any settings. Is there anything I can do to stop them from wanting to catch me? Like with Limewire how you can not share and they don't care?

[Kurt]

I mean by not changing any settings. Is there anything I can do to stop them from wanting to catch me? Like with Limewire how you can not share and they don't care? I don't quite get your question. I just think you should seed like the rest of us, it's the polite thing to do. On Limewire, no one cares if you don't seed, but on any other high-end filesharing program such as Azureus, you should seed.

[Fierce Deity]

Okay. I will try again.

On Limewire, the people that are looking to get you in trouble and take your things only care about prosecuting you if you share things as well as download them. So, I don't share.

Is there an equivalent to that is BitComet so that they won't care? Something you can do that will make a whole buttload of people worse and more of a priority than you?

[Kurt]

Okay. I will try again.

On Limewire, the people that are looking to get you in trouble and take your things only care about prosecuting you if you share things as well as download them. So, I don't share.

Is there an equivalent to that is BitComet so that they won't care? Something you can do that will make a whole buttload of people worse and more of a priority than you?
Oh, I get it. Sorry for not understanding sooner.

Nope, as long as you are not using a public internet acess point, you should be totally fine. You are right not to share on Limewire, though. I doubt it exists on Bitcomet, and I know it's not on Azureus, becuase thier Java-based system is so secure.

[Fierce Deity]

What do you mean by public access point? I use the Comcast Cable at my house.

Also, is what Mjshl said true? That if you download movies you can get in trouble easier and your IP is easily accessable to everyone? Or is it just with those sites you guys were talking about?

[Kurt]

What do you mean by public access point? I use the Comcast Cable at my house. I mean like internet at the library, or a McDonalds Wireless Access Point: Something not owned by you or your relatives/friends.

Also, is what Mjshl said true? That if you download movies you can get in trouble easier and your IP is easily accessable to everyone? Or is it just with those sites you guys were talking about?
No, that was stupid. Using his logic, because games cost more money than music and movies, you should get in more trouble for getting them. But you don't. It was just a rumor; I heard the same one a long time ago.

[Fierce Deity]

Okay, that is good. Thanks for the info.

[pizzaman]

Okay, that is good. Thanks for the info.
Yes I agree. A guy got caught downloading something illegally here and town just a few days ago.

[Mjshl2]

You didnt scare me off. Thats not possible. You see the only persons opinion that matters to me is my own(for the most part). Although I do feel everyone has the right to there own opinion, no matter how dumb it may be. I will never seed despite how rude it may be. So I guess I am a stupid Douchebag, but everyone else is to in some way. Thats all I have to say about that. As for the Ego, everyone would have to have a big Ego then, because theres not a Non-selfish Human being on the planet. So that still doesnt sound right to me. I really dont think highly of myself in any way. Its really quite the opposite.

As for the rumor of the open IP, thats no rumor. I didnt mean anyone, its really those that take care of the servers. The RIAA has made a big stink about music and there has been a few times in the past where they forced torrent sites by law to include trackers and such in files which leads to people getting busted. Read up on it. They can see anyones IP that is uploading or downloading. People have been busted quite a few times from this. The reason I say nothing about games is because there is no company after them like Music and Movies. With Movies theres the MPAA. With music theres the RIAA. Games theres not really anything except the ESA. Doesnt make it ok. But its alot safer to get them.

"How people can reasonlessly put themselves above others and refuse to give things in return for what they've taken confuses me to no end. I mean, I know there are human sacks of lameness like that out there, but how they can justify being so stupid completely baffles me."

Umm, just about everything you would get from a Torrent is stealing anyway. So the not giving something in return part doesnt make sense. Even if you seed you are still stealing from someone and refusing to give something in return for it.

I respect your opinions (aside from the harshness you tend to have sometimes, which I feel is uneccessary) Kurt and your knowledge, but I know this to be true. Ive seen way to many articles on it to say otherwise.

[Kurt]

You didnt scare me off. Thats not possible. You see the only persons opinion that matters to me is my own(for the most part). Type "arrogance" into Google. Although I do feel everyone has the right to there own opinion, no matter how dumb it may be. I will never seed despite how rude it may be. Type "selfishness" into Google. So I guess I am a stupid Douchebag, but everyone else is to in some way. Thats all I have to say about that. As for the Ego, everyone would have to have a big Ego then, because theres not a Non-selfish Human being on the planet. This is somewhat true, but not enough for it to be a valid point. Helping others is not only nice, it gives people a higher opinion of you in return. I'm not going to try to force you to seed, because you obviously care way too much about your own opinion. I rarely take advice unless I see the virtue in it, but that's a huge difference from not listening to anyone. So that still doesnt sound right to me. I really dont think highly of myself in any way. Its really quite the opposite. Really? That's bullcrap for several reasons. Firstly, you proclaimed yourself to be more important than the other people WHO ARE SEEDING so that you can get your download and keep it to yourself. Secondly, anyone who cares that much about themself would, as required by logic, have an enormous ego. Now, there are different kinds of self-centered egoism, some worse than others. But when you refuse to admit your own problems and shortcomings, that, to me, is a rediculously self-loving thing to do.

As for the rumor of the open IP, thats no rumor. I didnt mean anyone, its really those that take care of the servers. Okay, so the lesson here is only use trusted sites. The RIAA has made a big stink about music and there has been a few times in the past where they forced torrent sites by law to include trackers and such in files which leads to people getting busted. I believe there is an article on that somewhere. Read up on it. They can see anyones IP that is uploading or downloading. People have been busted quite a few times from this. Can you provide me with a few links? The reason I say nothing about games is because there is no company after them like Music and Movies. Actually, Sony made a big fuss about illegally aquired games, if I remember correctly. With Movies theres the MPAA. With music theres the RIAA. Games theres not really anything except the ESA. Doesnt make it ok. But its alot safer to get them.

"How people can reasonlessly put themselves above others and refuse to give things in return for what they've taken confuses me to no end. I mean, I know there are human sacks of lameness like that out there, but how they can justify being so stupid completely baffles me."

Umm, just about everything you would get from a Torrent is stealing anyway. Yes, but people, human beings, are providing it to you at absolutely no cost and the only thing they ask in return is for you to seed, so that other users can download the same program as you. Is that such a hard thing to ask? So the not giving something in return part doesnt make sense. Even if you seed you are still stealing from someone and refusing to give something in return for it.

I respect your opinions (aside from the harshness you tend to have sometimes, which I feel is uneccessary) Kurt and your knowledge, but I know this to be true. Ive seen way to many articles on it to say otherwise. Either you just launched your speech from one subject to another, or you're saying there are articles on why you should not seed.

All I'm saying is: You're not buying the game. You are getting it for free from nice people. So, in return, you don't seed, decreasing everyone else's download speed considerably. If you're downloading a well-seeded torrent, then there is absolutely no need to seed. If the torrent is in dire need of seeders, you should seed for other people's sake.

EDIT: By the way, I will no longer be posting in this thread unless asked a question.

[chaos master]

Yes I agree. A guy got caught downloading something illegally here and town just a few days ago.
GIGA GASP!!

What was he downloading? You should change your ways, pizzaman! Lest I have to say DUN DUN DUNNNNN.

omg omg omg, Kurt and Mjshl2 are the knew chaos master and Iconoclast. Do not fret! It is normal for forums to have rivalries and arguements. I'm going to just walk away....

[pizzaman]

http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/7237/untitledwo8.png

How come it says that I'm done with 3.2% when I almost downloaded 10%?!

[chaos master]

http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/7237/untitledwo8.png

How come it says that I'm done with 3.2% when I almost downloaded 10%?!
It could be because the a piece you downloaded failed the hash check and was discarded, and then was re-downloaded. Thus, your total downloaded and percent complete values may not be in sync.

[pizzaman]

It could be because the a piece you downloaded failed the hash check and was discarded, and then was re-downloaded. Thus, your total downloaded and percent complete values may not be in sync.
I'm sorry, but I don't really pay attention to all that information while downloading. I just learn the important stuff, so tell me from the start. What's the hash check? I know that I got like 25 MB of crappy information, but that's nothing close to what the percentage says.

[Kurt]

It could be because the a piece you downloaded failed the hash check and was discarded, and then was re-downloaded. Thus, your total downloaded and percent complete values may not be in sync.CM's probably right. Seeing as you're using Azureus, you can easily find the offending files and remove them or put them on Don't Download. I think.

[chaos master]

I'm sorry, but I don't really pay attention to all that information while downloading. I just learn the important stuff, so tell me from the start. What's the hash check? I know that I got like 25 MB of crappy information, but that's nothing close to what the percentage says.
It could be due to the hash check, and it might not...

The hash check is some special test that checks if the data you downloaded is correct and what it's supposed to be, I think.

[pizzaman]

Well both of you guys are confusing me.... I know that there was 27.60 MB of data that was discarded, but, like I said, that doesn't cover up all those GB of data that it doesn't show!