BitTorrent is good for:
Large files
Downloading multiple files, such as all the MP3s in an album
New releases
Popular files
Finding files

But is bad for:
Small files - such as single MP3s
Older or rare files
Dialup users
Legal security
Looking for files

First off, scrap most of what you know about P2P and turn the rest on its head.

BitTorrent was started by Bram Cohen, who developed the foundations of BitTorrent whilst studying effective and efficient distribution of data. In contrast, most file sharing applications concentrate on the searching of files.

The result is extremely fast downloads, but a bit of confusion over how to get started.


BitTorrent is easy when you know how, it does not take long to learn and the payoff is well worth it. That is where this guide helps. It contains no unnecessary technical words, and an explanation of those you may be unfamiliar with. It may look long, but that is mostly explanation. It all translates into only a few more clicks than any other program.

You may also like to try the quick start guide, found at the end.

The Client

The client is the program where you can see your downloads. Behind the scenes, it also does the leg work for downloading the file. It is very much like any other P2P application you may have used, but you will notice the absence of a search button.

The BitTorrent project is open source. This means that anyone can see how it works and so can make changes and improvements. As a result, there are a large number of BitTorrent clients. All the main clients are compatible, as they concentrate on appearance and control, rather than the underlying principles.

A comprehensive and regularly updated list of BitTorrent clients can be found at Beatking. There is a never ending debate as to the best client. Yet Another BitTorrent Client and Azureus usually come near the top of polls. Try a selection and find one to suit you.

Torrent files

Unlike on other file swapping networks, users of BitTorrent do not have a shared folder. This is because instead of searching for files, files are advertised.

When a user wants to share a file with the community, they must make a “Torrent” file. Torrent files are small files ending with .torrent. Among other information, the file contains a hash of the file the user wishes to share and the location of the tracker.

A torrent file can be created for all the files in a folder, rather than just a single file. This is useful for a folder of MP3s, so entire albums can be downloaded at once. A group of files collected in this way is called a “Torrent.”

Hash

A hash is a unique identifier. Two identical files will have the same hash. If a file becomes corrupt in transit, then its hash will change. The hash is therefore used to test the integrity of a downloaded file.

Tracker

A tracker is a central server which keeps track of all the computers demanding a particular file.

Torrent

This term has multiple meanings:
-> Torrent file – as explained above.
-> One or more files which have been grouped to be uploaded and downloaded together. “There are five files in that torrent.”
-> The process of uploading and/or downloading a file, or grouped set of files. “I have a torrent running to download the game”

Torrent Sites

The creator of a torrent file then submits the file to a torrent site. It is at these sites which your BitTorrent experience begins.

A list of torrent websites can be found at Beatking. Due to recent actions by the MPAA, there is no one universal torrent site. The best bet is to select the top site at Beatking.

Torrent sites often have problems coping with traffic. They therefore ask for donations and often have popup advertisements. Just remember that as with all websites, it does not matter how reputable the sites is, the adverts may be scams, or contain other nasties. Make sure that your popup stopper is switched on.

There are also a couple of torrent search engines. These scour the web for .torrent files. Once comfortable with the concept of BitTorrent, you may like to give them a go.
BT Bot
Yotoshi


Downloading files

Choose a client, as explained in the section titled “The Client.”
Select the top Torrent site at Beatking, currently mininova.org

You will see a large list of games, films, software, music and everything else which can come in digital form. Look through the list until something catches your eye. If you can not find anything, use the navigation at the top.

You will not find anywhere near the selection of files you would by searching a traditional file sharing network. That is the beauty and curse of BitTorrent. By everyone concentrating on a particular file, speeds can be dramatically increased. This makes BitTorrent perfect for quickly spreading the latest releases.

Once you have found what you want, click the downward arrow next to torrent name. This will download a copy of a .torrent file, which has instructions to your client on how to download your selected file.

Your chosen BitTorrent client should then load and ask where you want to save the file to. Choose a location and begin downloading. Lots of people downloading the same torrent is called a “Swarm.”

Upon requesting a torrent file, instead of your client loading, you may get a download window appearing. Open the file from location, or save the file somewhere convenient. Then load it with your BitTorrent client.

Try not to have more than three torrents running at a time. Concentration is the key.

Whilst Downloading

There are too many clients to be specific, but there are points which are common.

Title or Name

The title of the torrent is sometimes complicated. In its simplest form, it will be the name of the media or collection of files being downloaded. However file names may also contain the person or release group who made the torrent, the language the file, the file type and much more.

It is worth checking the name for clues that the resulting files are not what the torrent first appeared.

Download speed

This is the speed at which you are downloading the file. It will start off slowly and speed up. If the download does not speed up, or speeds long periods at 0-5kb/s, then check this guide.

Whilst downloading a file, you are a “leecher.” Unlike other networks, being a leecher has nothing to do with uploading. Because of this confusion, sometimes users who are downloading are called “peers.”

Upload speed

As you download a file, you will notice that you are also uploading it. This will not start straight away, as you will have nothing to upload. This contrasts with other file sharing programs, where users upload different files to those they are downloading.

It is by uploading the file you are currently downloading that you share with the community, rather than having a shared folder. As a bit of encouragement to upload, download speed is dependant on your upload.

Download/upload ratio

Once you have finished downloading a file, the incentive to keep uploading is lost. However, it is important for the network that you continue to upload for as long as you can.

To help you know how long to keep uploading for, lots of clients have an upload/download ratio. It is important to let this run to at least 1, or 100%, but the higher the better.

If you are using a client without a ratio, just let the torrent run for as long as possible.

During this period of uploading, but not downloading, users are called “seeds.”

There needs to be at least one seed for your download to finish. This is not strictly true, but is a good rule of thumb. Lots of BitTorrent clients and torrent websites tell users the number of seeds and the number of peers in a swarm.

Warning Message

Look out for warning messages. These will report when a tracker can not be found or connected to. If the tracker is offline or can not be found, wait a while to see if it comes back before cancelling the download.

The warning message will also indicate if you are trying to connect to a private tracker.

To Recap

Users do not have a shared folder.
To download a file, or a group of files, you must find and download a torrent file.
A torrent file tells the client what tracker to connect to and what to download.
Torrent files are found at torrent websites.
Whilst downloading, you upload parts of the file you have already downloaded.
When finished downloading, it is important for the network that users continue to upload.

Questions

Is BitTorrent safe?

No one has been sued for using BitTorrent, but this is subject to change.

It is dangerous to use BitTorrent to download popular copyright films. Your ISP may receive a complaint letter from film studios. In turn, your ISP may threaten you. There have also been rumours of complaint letters to users downloading/uploading television episodes.

Are there many fake files or viruses?

As with all file sharing programs, there is a danger of getting a virus. However, it is currently rare. No more precaution is needed than any other activity on the Internet.

Fake files are also rare. The most common problem is downloading a film in the wrong language.

The community is also suffering from an increase in so called "spam torrents". These torrents are placed on open websites, but require registration with another website to join a tracker, or for the password to open the completed file.

Can I preview files?

As a general rule, no. Some BitTorrent clients have some flexibility on this.

What is a private tracker?

Most trackers allow connection to any user. However, there is some fear that BitTorrent is being slowed down by people who disconnect straight after they have finished downloading. In my opinion, this is unfounded.

To tackle the percieved problem, some trackers require registration. The activity of users can then be tracked over a number of torrents, in order to ensure that everyone uploads as much as they should.

Some users are pleased with this initiative, giving peace of mind that leeches are not taking advantage. However, larger sites such as TorrentReactor also somethimes publishes torrents which need registration. These are called spam torrents.

If your download does not begin, check your warning messages to see if you have picked up a spam torrent, or if there is an error with the tracker.

Can I start a torrent?

Anyone can. How to do so is beyond the scope of this guide.
For information on starting a torrent, begin here.

Other Questions

Another comprehensive FAQ can be found here.

Quick Start Guide

Install a the ABC BitTorrent Client.
Goto Beatking to chose a torrent site to get your files from.
Download a torrent file.
Open the file with your chosen client.