Difference between revisions of "BitTorrent"
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== Legality == | == Legality == | ||
| − | [[File sharing]] through the use of BitTorrent applications is currently legal, however, the use of such applications in order to share material protected under copyright is illegal. Despite being illegal, the use of torrents is constantly increasing due to the extreme ease and low risk with which one can obtain copyrighted material. | + | [[File Sharing| File sharing]] through the use of BitTorrent applications is currently legal, however, the use of such applications in order to share material protected under copyright is illegal. Despite being illegal, the use of torrents is constantly increasing due to the extreme ease and low risk with which one can obtain copyrighted material. |
Many legal uses of BitTorrent clients include widespread distribution of open source software and media. | Many legal uses of BitTorrent clients include widespread distribution of open source software and media. | ||
Many large companies, such as [[Blizzard Entertainment]], also take advantage of the benefits that BitTorrent clients offer in order to distribute software updates. This allows users to share the data that they have already downloaded with other users who still need it, thus dramatically speeding up the entire process. | Many large companies, such as [[Blizzard Entertainment]], also take advantage of the benefits that BitTorrent clients offer in order to distribute software updates. This allows users to share the data that they have already downloaded with other users who still need it, thus dramatically speeding up the entire process. | ||
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| + | ==See Also== | ||
| + | [[File Sharing]] | ||
== External Links == | == External Links == | ||
Revision as of 23:46, 11 November 2011
BitTorrent refers to the peer-to-peer file sharing protocol used by many P2P clients.
Description
BitTorrent is also the file sharing client the protocol was named after. The protocol, widely used by many client programs, allows users to connect via the internet and share pieces of a file with many other users.
Torrent
A torrent file is the basis of peer-to-peer connection in that it hold a description of the location of various pieces of the file being shared. The torrent is not the actual file being shared, just a mapping of portions. Torrents are hosted by third parties online but made easily accessible and searchable by BitTorrent clients and torrent-specific search engines.
Sharing
In regards to the BitTorrent protocol, uploading or sharing pieces is commonly referred to as seeding. When a user downloads without seeding, they are said to be leeching. Torrent files are designed so that users may seed portions before they have downloaded the entire file, meaning others can download parts of the file from the user, even before the user has finished downloading it. The fact that only portions of a file can be downloaded from multiple sources is a large factor in the popularity of BitTorrent applications. Since this method of file sharing aggregates pieces of files from many different locations, it also magnifies the risks and responsibilities associated with file sharing.
Mechanics
When a user downloads a torrent file, it contains a hash of the files to be downloaded. It also contains a list of servers, known as trackers, that the user can connect to in order to find BitTorrent users which are seeding the necessary files. After the user connects and receives the list of users sharing the file, the user's Bit Torrent client will connect to these users. The aggregate of all the connections is known as the user's swarm. The client will begin by sending out requests to the swarm in order to obtain a list of which pieces are available to download, then it will make requests for those files. In turn, the swarm will begin sending its own requests for pieces which the user's client can then reciprocate. The process of downloading a file using a Bit Torrent client is known as leeching. Once the files are finished downloading, the user can remain in the swarm and continue sharing pieces, also known as seeding.
Legality
File sharing through the use of BitTorrent applications is currently legal, however, the use of such applications in order to share material protected under copyright is illegal. Despite being illegal, the use of torrents is constantly increasing due to the extreme ease and low risk with which one can obtain copyrighted material.
Many legal uses of BitTorrent clients include widespread distribution of open source software and media.
Many large companies, such as Blizzard Entertainment, also take advantage of the benefits that BitTorrent clients offer in order to distribute software updates. This allows users to share the data that they have already downloaded with other users who still need it, thus dramatically speeding up the entire process.
