Introduction of BitTorrent

Now, let start with the topic about BitTorrent. A simple introduction about BitTorrent. What is BitTorrent and how it actually works?

BitTorrent is a technology or a protocal that allow fast downloading and sharing of large files using the minimum internet bandwidth. Why is it using minimum internet bandwidth? Because users cooperate in the distribution of the file which means that user upload and download the file at the same time. As for the case of normal downloading such as FTP/HTTP download, the file is only transfer by the server, then if more users demand on downloading it may result in require more bandwidth. Therefore, bittorent is introduced.

Way that BitTorrent works

For bittorent to work, a tracker server and a seeder is needed. A tracker is a server that manages the BitTorrent file-transfer process and a seed/seeder is a user/computer with a complete copy of a file to be shared or distributed. As for the downloaders, which are known as leechers have to connect to the tracker in order to link with the seed. In BitTorrent, leechers will get higher download speed if they upload more. This is one of BitTorrent principal that solve the problem of leechers. Therefore, everyone with greater upload speed may speed up everyone download speed. Finally, to make better use of available Internet bandwidth (the pipeline for data transmission), BitTorrent downloads different pieces of the file the user want simultaneously from multiple computers.

This is the sample picture that shows about BitTorrent process:

In conclusion, I think that BitTorrent is very popular for sharing large files such as videos, games, etc. It is better than P2P because P2P software may have annoying advertisment, spyware and maybe the files would be very dangerous and easily affected by harmful viruses or trojans. BitTorrent is different because we may choose where to get the torrent file such as from trusted web site or forums and therefore will be save from harmful viruses, trojans and spywares. If the torrent file is shared from a forum, we may also get comments on the files by other users such as if there is virus in the file, users there will report to the moderator and they will get rid of it and give everyone warning about it as fast as possible. Therefore, comparing to other file sharing method such as P2P, BitTorrent is much more simpler, safer, faster and is the best of all file sharing methods.

That's all I can say about how BitTorrent works.

Internet References

BitTorrent.org » For Users [image, DOC, Online], 24 May 2007. URL: http://www.bittorrent.org/introduction.html
Carmen Carmack, Howstuffworks How BitTorrent Works[image, DOC, Online], 24 May 2007. URL: http://computer.howstuffworks.com/bittorrent.htm