Difference between revisions of "BitTorrent"
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| − | '''BitTorrent''' | + | '''BitTorrent''' is designed by computer programmer [[Wikipedia:Bram Cohen|Bram Cohen]] in April 2001. It is the peer-to-peer file sharing protocol used by many [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peer-to-peer P2P clients]and it's also called Mainline by web developers. The first version of the BitTorrent client was released on 2 July 2001, and now it is available on [[Wikipedia:Mac OS X|Mac OS X]] and [[Wikipedia:Microsoft windows|Microsoft Windows]]. |
| + | ([[Tops & Categories|Back to index]]) | ||
[[File:BitTorrent_Icon_by_Augermage.png|thumb|right|BittorrentLogo]] | [[File:BitTorrent_Icon_by_Augermage.png|thumb|right|BittorrentLogo]] | ||
Revision as of 06:06, 25 November 2011
BitTorrent is designed by computer programmer Bram Cohen in April 2001. It is the peer-to-peer file sharing protocol used by many P2P clientsand it's also called Mainline by web developers. The first version of the BitTorrent client was released on 2 July 2001, and now it is available on Mac OS X and Microsoft Windows. (Back to index)
Contents
Introduction
BitTorrent is the file sharing client that is shared between peers. The protocol permits users to connect across the internet and share certain files with other users. BitTorrent is one of the most prevalent protocols for moving big files, and it has been estimated that it makes up to 70% of all internet traffic.
Torrent
A torrent file is the basis of the peer-to-peer connection in that it holds a description of the location of the various pieces of the file that is being shared. The torrent is not the actual file being shared however, it is just a mapping of the smaller 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 BitTorrent 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 BitTorrent 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.
Ethical Implications
There are a variety of ethical implications surrounding the use of BitTorrent applications. Although these torrenting applications are currently legal, it is illegal to share material that is protected under copyright. This bodes the questions whether or not users will abide by these loosely established laws. The BitTorrent software grants users the abilities to access data that they might not have permission to access and thus there are a variety of ethical concerns surrounding the use of torrenting applications. Is it the user's responsibility to properly use the software the way it was intended to be used? Should they be accountable if they abuse the software they are presented with? Or should the companies that produce the software be the ones held responsible when their software is misused? It is a tough and seemingly impossible question to fully resolve, but will most definitely be a topic of debate as torrenting continues to have more of an impact in today's society.
