[Wolves] Bit Torrent is rubbish

[Alan Pope]

On Apr 1, 2005 12:51 PM, Peter Cannon <peter at cannon-linux.co.uk> wrote:
> Hi All
> 
> This Bit Torrent stuff is crap!!

Er, no it isn't. I have downloaded masses and masses of stuff very
easily via bit torrent.

> I have been downloading a 1.66GB zip file since Tuesday, the dam thing has
> been on all day and all night the average speed has been 3KB the best
> download I've seen so far has been 9KB

But how many other people are online and have that file. If that file
isn't popular (say for example a really old distribution ISO or
something) then nobody will have it online, and you won't be able to
download it quickly - makes sense really.

> 
> From what I can see, if I understand it correct I'm getting the download from
> one peer only and the whole of Asia is getting it from me. I've tried
> limiting the upload rate as I don't see why everyone should get it faster
> from me when its taking so long for me to get it!

And that's where your plan falls to the ground. The *whole* *point* of
peer-to-peer (and especially bit torrent is that you *share*. With bit
torrent if you limit the upload rate it automatically limits your
download rate. Nobody is going to send you stuff if you're not sharing
what you've already got.

> 
> I limited it to 2KB upload but Ive seen the bloody thing jump to 5KB, so far I
> have 87.8% with 208MB remaining.
> 

Rate limiting isn't an exact science.

So you have 88% of a file that, say 1.4GB over a few days. What did
you expect? The file to come down immediately? You're dependant as I
said on other people sharing the file. Bit torrent works best for
files that are popular - recent episodes of Dr Who, Star Trek and 24
if the media are to be believed are very popular and thus download
quickly.

> I thought this Bit Torrent stuff was supposed to be quicker and kinder? I mean
> for gods sake 'Torrent' my arse I'd have been quicker using FTP
> 

It's quicker yes if you can find an ftp site with the file and that
site isn't swamped with connections already.

> I was gonna play with the download last night, no chance, OK I thought its at
> 78% it should be done for Friday morning (Today), you must be kidding so I
> wont be playing with it tonight or Saturday or Sunday I just hope its done by
> Monday!!
> 

Leave it running overnight with NO limit and see what you get. 

> As soon as its finished guess whats getting un-installed
> 

Your loss.


Cheers,
Al.