Bittorrent
Why would one use it?
BitTorrent is a peer-to-peer file sharing protocol used for distributing large amounts of data. The BitTorrent protocol allows users to distribute large amounts of data without the heavy demands on their computers that would be needed for standard Internet hosting.How Does It Work?
- A user makes a file available to the network. This first user's file is called a seed. Its availability on the network allows other users, called peers, to connect and begin to download the seed file.
- As new peers connect to the network and request the same file, their computer receives a different piece of the data from the seed.
- Once multiple peers have multiple pieces of the seed, BitTorrent allows each to become a source for that portion of the file. The effect of this is to take on a small part of the task and relieve the initial user, distributing the file download task among the seed and many peers. The seed and the peers are collectively known as the swarm.
- With BitTorrent, no one computer needs to supply data in quantities which could jeopardize the task by overwhelming all resources, yet the same final result - each peer eventually receiving the entire file - is still reached.
- BitTorrent Etiquitte suggests that you should remain a part of the swarm until you have reached a 1:1 ratio for upload:download.
(notes and image taken from Wikipedia )
Hardware
- Computer connected to the Internet
- Storage - Big hard drive(s)
Software
- Bittorrent Client - Transmission, Vuze (Azureus), Deluge, uTorrent, rTorrent, KTorrent and BitComet
- Torrent File - Torrent files are typically published on websites or elsewhere, and registered with at least one tracker. The tracker maintains lists of the clients currently participating in the torrent. File extension is .torrent.
Features
- Most consumer ISP packages offer 2 transfer rates - a high speed for downloading and a lower speed for uploading. Bittorrent takes advantage of this and the user sees high download rates because he is receiving data from many sources even though each uploader's rate may be limited.
- Search engines such as Google allow the discovery of torrent files that are hosted and tracked on other sites. Some of the popular sites are: Minova, BTJunkie, ISOHunt, Pirate Bay, TorrentZ, TorrentDownloads. These sites allow the user to ask for content meeting specific criteria (such as a given word or phrase) and retrieve a list of links to torrent files matching those criteria. Public / Open / Legit Sites: LegalTorrents.com, Public Domain Torrents, Legit Torrents, Linux Tracker
How to Use
- Download and Install a BitTorrent Client
- Find and Download a Torrent File
- "Open" the Torrent file in the BiTTorrent Client
- Rejoice
Miro
Miro can play almost any video file and offers over 6,000 free internet TV shows and video podcasts. Miro has a simple interface designed for fullscreen HD video. Since Miro downloads most videos, you can take your shows with you, even on an airplane.Miro is 100% free and open source, developed by a non-profit organization and volunteers around the world.
Is this Legal?
The way to get into legal trouble, is to "transfer" (upload, download, whatever) something without the owner's permission. This is true for any protocol be it bittorrent, ftp, http, xmodem, zmodem, usenet etc. There are numerous laws and regulations covering different locales, content, transfers, etc.
In the US this covers most music, film and non-free software. There are exceptions to the rule, of course, such as with Indie music or films and Open Source or Free software. They want their stuff circulated, to bring attention to it.
For the most part, though, artists and companies do not agree to you to obtaining their material without permission.
Many search sites have a section that cover copyright issues. The internet is global. Copyright issues are local. Think before you download.