Can some one explain "bit torrents" to me?

[TheCorinthian]

I am lost about them. Try to only use one syllable words.

[expat]

One person decides to share a file on his computer (perhaps a movie, say debbiedoesdallas). He creates a file, called a torrent, using a torrent program (easiest to use imho is µTorrent, http://www.utorrent.com/ ). This file would be named something like debbiedoesdallas.torrent. He then uploads this file to a torrent site.

 

Other people want the file on his computer, so they download the torrent file, debbiedoesdallas.torrent, and load it in to their bittorent program. Many people do this, creating a cloud of people sharing this file, getting bit and pieces off of each other. As long as each person shares as much as he takes (or leeches in the nomenclature), everything is hunky dory and everyone ends up with the file.

 

That's my shot.

[Flashermac]

Best thing about a torrent is that it continues loading after a connection is lost. No need to start reloading the whole #$%@! thing if it crashes, since the torrent automatically picks up where you left off. Bits and pieces are downloaded as available, not simply in sequence. Draw back is it might take to complete a while when certain parts aren't readily available.

 

 

 

 

[shygye]

 

 

Link

 

A user who wishes to distribute a file first creates a small torrent descriptor file that he distributes by conventional means (web, email, etc). He then makes the file itself available through a BitTorrent node acting as a seed. Those with the torrent descriptor file can give it to their own BitTorrent nodes which, acting as peers or leechers, download it by connecting to the seed and/or other peers.

 

The file being distributed is divided into segments called pieces. As each peer receives a new piece of the file it becomes a source of that piece to other peers, relieving the seed from having to send a copy to every peer. With BitTorrent, the task of distributing the file is shared by those who want it; it is entirely possible for the seed to send only a single copy of the file itself to an unlimited number of peers.

[kamui]

 

Link

 

A user who wishes to distribute a file first creates a small torrent descriptor file that he distributes by conventional means (web, email, etc). He then makes the file itself available through a BitTorrent node acting as a seed. Those with the torrent descriptor file can give it to their own BitTorrent nodes which, acting as peers or leechers, download it by connecting to the seed and/or other peers.

 

The file being distributed is divided into segments called pieces. As each peer receives a new piece of the file it becomes a source of that piece to other peers, relieving the seed from having to send a copy to every peer. With BitTorrent, the task of distributing the file is shared by those who want it; it is entirely possible for the seed to send only a single copy of the file itself to an unlimited number of peers.

 

Yep, just download utorrent, go to Piratebay.org or similar Torrent sites. Search for the movie, e.g. you like. Download the torrent file for the movie (which is not the file itself). Open the torrentfile with uTorrent and uTorrent will download the movie file. Sounds complicated, but is very easy to do.

 

If you are into movies the next step is to learn about the different qualities of movies (Screener, Telesync, Cam, DVDR, R5, e.g.). For example Cams are really bad copies while R5 and DVDR are quite good.

[acockasian]

I am lost about them. Try to only use one syllable words.

 

Welcome, Young Corinthian. Welcome to the world of non-stop 24 hour porn downloading. Welcome to my world.

 

Bit torrents can also be used for non-porn movies and music - which I am told exists on the internet in torrent form - but have never had time to check personally.

[shygye]

Here is a good site for torrents,

 

btmon

[Coss]

What expat says.

 

One of the great things is that the .torrent file is not the file that you are downloading, more like an instruction set. Therefore it is difficult for the authorities to say you or others are hosting illegal software, because the file being transmitted is in a myriad of little bits all over the net, making it difficult to say who actually has the file.

 

So now the recording industry are having to prove that having the "instructions" is the same as illegal distribution.

 

Which is like me telling you how to kill someone, am I then a murderer?

 

JMHO

 

Also one of the ways this torrent system is set up is that when you start downloading a file from many sources on the interweb, the progress can be slow, as most software used for this requires that you upload bits back, instead of just "leaching". But towards the end of the download, when the software sees you have been "upping" the download can get extremely fast, zipping to conclusion in moments.

 

Or it does seem to for me

[shygye]

I setup a separate small partition (10GB) for the file "assembly". Then when it is complete, the file is automatically transferred to my main data disk. I did this to minimize disk fragmentation, because I usually have like 10 active downloads happening at the same time.

 

Most bittorrent clients have these options.

[expat]

The fact is that torrents are in the radar of the anti-pirates. There are safer options such as usenet and irc. Usenet is actually easier in some ways, but you have to pay a bit (perhaps ten bucks a month). Wiki 'usenet' and you'll see what mean.