Linux and Bit Torrent

Bit Torrent is a distributed software distribution protocol; or something like that. When you find an item available as a "torrent", you end up looking for a bit torrent client, and there are many to choose from. A quick peek yields:
 $ yum list | grep deluge
deluge.noarch                            1.1.9-3.fc12                   fedora  
deluge-flags.noarch                      1.1.9-3.fc12                   fedora  
 $ yum list | grep torrent
bittorrent.noarch                        4.4.0-13.fc12                  @fedora 
bittorrent-gui.noarch                    4.4.0-13.fc12                  @fedora 
ctorrent.x86_64                          1.3.4-14.dnh3.3.2.fc12         fedora  
gtorrentviewer.x86_64                    0.2b-18.fc12                   fedora  
kde-plasma-ktorrent.x86_64               3.3.4-1.fc12                   updates 
ktorrent.x86_64                          3.3.4-1.fc12                   updates 
ktorrent-devel.i686                      3.3.4-1.fc12                   updates 
ktorrent-devel.x86_64                    3.3.4-1.fc12                   updates 
ktorrent-libs.i686                       3.3.4-1.fc12                   updates 
ktorrent-libs.x86_64                     3.3.4-1.fc12                   updates 
libtorrent.i686                          0.12.6-1.fc12                  updates 
libtorrent.x86_64                        0.12.6-1.fc12                  updates 
libtorrent-devel.i686                    0.12.6-1.fc12                  updates 
libtorrent-devel.x86_64                  0.12.6-1.fc12                  updates 
mktorrent.x86_64                         1.0-4.fc12                     updates 
monotorrent.x86_64                       0.72-5.fc12                    fedora  
monotorrent-devel.i686                   0.72-5.fc12                    fedora  
monotorrent-devel.x86_64                 0.72-5.fc12                    fedora  
php-pear-File-Bittorrent2.noarch         1.3.1-4.fc12                   fedora  
qbittorrent.x86_64                       2.2.7-1.fc12                   updates 
qbittorrent-nox.x86_64                   2.2.7-1.fc12                   updates 
rb_libtorrent.i686                       0.14.10-1.fc12                 updates 
rb_libtorrent.x86_64                     0.14.10-1.fc12                 updates 
rb_libtorrent-devel.i686                 0.14.10-1.fc12                 updates 
rb_libtorrent-devel.x86_64               0.14.10-1.fc12                 updates 
rb_libtorrent-examples.x86_64            0.14.10-1.fc12                 updates 
rb_libtorrent-python.x86_64              0.14.10-1.fc12                 updates 
rtorrent.x86_64                          0.8.6-2.fc12                   updates 
torrentzip.x86_64                        0.2-3.fc11                     rpmfusion-free
I haven't the foggiest idea which to prefer or why. I think what I will do is:
yum install bittorrent
yum install deluge
It turns out bittorrent was already installed on my system. The deluge package pulls in 10 other packages (including "boost").

When I launch the bittorrent client, I get lots of warnings (including one about the sha module being deprecated and that I should use the hashlib module). Clearly this is written in python (as is the deluge client). (I am running the bittorrent-4.4.0-13.fc12.noarch version, which is the latest available from the fedora yum distribution). The rpm -qi bittorrent command tells me the source of this item and gives me a link to the bit torrent website.

At least the deluge client has a man page (the bittorrent client does not). And the man page points me to the deluge home page When I launch it, I get some warnings about gtk.Tooltip and deprecation, as well as the advice that a newer version (1.3.0_rc1) is available (I am running deluge-1.1.9-3.fc12.noarch.

Unfortunately the documentation for deluge dives right into all kinds of arcane issues that I am sure fascinate the developers, but for somebody like me who is simply wanting to know, How do I run this thing and download a torrent it is frustrating. They are too busy telling you why their torrent client is more wonderful than all the others, and all I want to know is how to use the dang thing.

The BitTorrent website leads me to a nicely written "beginners guide". Apparently to get a torrent started, you need a "torrent file", which is typically obtained from a "torrent website". These torrent websites are either indexes or trackers (or more typically both). Some trackers require registration, and this leads to a discussion of what appears to be a "torrent culture". Note that neither indexes or trackers actually handle nor host content.

The way a torrent works is that while you are receiving content, you are also helping to distribute it. And when a torrent download finishes, it is good citizenship to leave your torrent active (and "seeding") to aid other people receiving the same content. This kind of cooperation is how torrent downloads work. Your download was almost certainly aided by other people doing just this. Once the upload:download ratio reaches 1.00 you can feel that you have done your part.

Take a look at Brian's BitTorrent FAQ and Guide.
Also, here is Slyck's Guide to BitTorrent


Have any comments? Questions? Drop me a line!

Adventures in Computing / tom@mmto.org