Bit Torrent question, how does it work? why is it better than direct connect ++?

[JOHNGALT99]

how does bit torrent work? why should i use it over direct connect ++?

thanks

 

[Dundain]

Bittorrent works by having a starter file, called a torrent that you download to your system. It basically has the "layout" of the file/files your downloading. Information like sizes, m5sum values, etc. Once you download the file and launch it in your bittorrent client it then sends a ping back to a tracker located on a central server which makes it much easier to grab the file from anyone using. By grabbing I mean it works entirely distributed. Instead of downloading a file from one location, it takes peices from everyone, anywhere who has the file. Speed wise it has the potential to be quiet fast though most of the time I've noticed its slower and uses a higher CPU utilization than Direct Connect or the like. It also will upload peices of the file the second you get it. So basically, the second you get a bit of it its sharing that out to others. Highly effiecient bandwidth sharing.

DirectConnect is much more centralized, like Napster. You have everyone connecting to a central server to see each other then making a connection between each others computer when they share files. Its faster than Bittorrent but much easier to take down/limit. Otherwise, the second you make a connection it becomes entirely peer-to-peer. Individual.

 

[JOHNGALT99]

which bit torrent client is a good one? also could you pm a site that has torrent list or a torrernt search ?

thanks i think i am going to check out bit torrent alittle

 

[BigFatCow]

i use shadows experimental bt client (google for it should be the first link).

 

[Torghn]

ABC (another bittorent client) based off shadows experimental bt client is by far the best.

 

[BigFatCow]

Originally posted by: Torghn
ABC (another bittorent client) based off shadows experimental bt client is by far the best.

Ill look into that client. It does seem better just reading the specs and looking at the screen shots. One of my main problems with shadows client is that it takes up massive amounts of memory, even on my file server with 512 mb of ram a few open windows lags the system horribly.

 

[BigFatCow]

Originally posted by: Torghn
ABC (another bittorent client) based off shadows experimental bt client is by far the best.

ABC is the best bt client i have ever used, i really like how it doesnt eat all my ram when i try to download multiple files.