BitTorrent
BitTorrent is another p2p application that has fast caught on the
fancy of the p2p community. It uses the same concept of networking
but is a little different in the way it needs to be operated.
Even with BitTorrent, you will need to download and install
the software before you start using it.
fancy of the p2p community. It uses the same concept of networking
but is a little different in the way it needs to be operated.
Even with BitTorrent, you will need to download and install
the software before you start using it.
Once you have installed the software, you will need to locate a Web site that will let you download an archive header or a .torrent file. There are a number of such sites that have updated file lists and let you download the header files, which add to the client software and then download the complete archive. This file contains a location that tells the BitTorrent client where to go to find the tracker that manages the uploading and downloading of the archive.
Once you have downloaded the .torrent file, your BitTorrent
client will kick in and connect to a managing computer that then
connects you to others who have the files. So why would you want
to go to Web sites first to download the header file? What makes
this network different from any other? Speed. This is the biggest advantage on the Torrent network.
client will kick in and connect to a managing computer that then
connects you to others who have the files. So why would you want
to go to Web sites first to download the header file? What makes
this network different from any other? Speed. This is the biggest advantage on the Torrent network.
Unlike earlier P2P networks, downloading using this network is a
dream since you are only limited by bandwidth and the number of
seeds available. If both are high, rest assured, downloading gigabytes of data is all in a day’s work.
dream since you are only limited by bandwidth and the number of
seeds available. If both are high, rest assured, downloading gigabytes of data is all in a day’s work.
The Web sites listing the torrents are called indexing sites and
have become very popular. Their popularity has come at a cost,
though with the MPAA and law enforcement agencies shutting
them down. There is also no shortage of sites to go to so long as
you know which are currently being used, as they come and go
rather quickly these days. Most indexing sites have a system of listing the number of Seeders and Leechers for a particular archive.
Seeder(s) are those users who have at least one complete copy
of the archive with them and are sharing it on the BitTorrent network.
have become very popular. Their popularity has come at a cost,
though with the MPAA and law enforcement agencies shutting
them down. There is also no shortage of sites to go to so long as
you know which are currently being used, as they come and go
rather quickly these days. Most indexing sites have a system of listing the number of Seeders and Leechers for a particular archive.
Seeder(s) are those users who have at least one complete copy
of the archive with them and are sharing it on the BitTorrent network.
However, for any user’s download to complete, you will need
at least one seeder who has the complete copy. Under certain circumstances
though, there may be no one seeder but enough people
with all the parts to make up the whole archive, which is
called a distributed copy.
Leecher is a user who starts downloading from the BitTorrent
network and then carries on downloading by connecting to different
seeders. In the BitTorrent network, though, a leecher is part of
the network and is uploading as well, many times more KB than
they download. This ensures that all users on the network get an
equal opportunity to download the file.
BitTorrent and eDonkey2000 are the most used networks
today. Web sites and forums that support the use and expansion of this network and community are available and there are new
users getting their first taste of P2P every single day. However,
there is a concern regarding the existence of these software and
community. How long will these networks survive given the legal
system (read American hegemony) and big American corporations
worldwide who are trying to put an end to P2P once and for all.
The “Digital Millennium Copyright Act Of 1998”
The Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) was enacted in 1998
and is an extension of the World Intellectual Property
Organization (WIPO) conference.
Simply put, this act lets US companies protect their works
from being abused in any manner using legal action. There are certain
clauses in the law that let companies take individuals or
organisations to court, who they think are infringing on the copyrights of their artists or their work.
The main benefactors of this act are the Recording Industry
Association of America (RIAA) and Motion Picture Association of
America (MPAA) who have their legal eagles keep an eye on the P2P
community. There have been a number of instances where the
DMCA Act has led to the closure of a number of P2P Web sites and
individuals and groups have been sued and sentenced by the
court, thanks to the DMCA act.
Association of America (RIAA) and Motion Picture Association of
America (MPAA) who have their legal eagles keep an eye on the P2P
community. There have been a number of instances where the
DMCA Act has led to the closure of a number of P2P Web sites and
individuals and groups have been sued and sentenced by the
court, thanks to the DMCA act.
However, some countries, especially the Nordic and Asian ones
do not have a legal framework in place that will prevent the distribution of software or applications or music using the network. These countries are the ones responsible for keeping the P2P community alive. But with growing US pressure, the future seems uncertain. Is this warranted, though? To an extent, yes. If you are someone who burns the midnight oil to get a fantastic music album out on the streets only to find it being pirated and sold online or
downloaded for free by people, our guess is you will go the legal
way. But that does not mean P2P is illegal.
There are Web sites available that let you download 100 per
cent legal software, movies and music. Agreed, these are few in
number, but it is a beginning. Another factor that makes business
sense is the downloading of software that takes place from Web
sites. Using BitTorrent, this can be done much faster and also be
spread to other users. Therefore, the bottomline is that P2P software can be put to good use. Will it catch on? That is a question, which can be answered only a few years on from now.
do not have a legal framework in place that will prevent the distribution of software or applications or music using the network. These countries are the ones responsible for keeping the P2P community alive. But with growing US pressure, the future seems uncertain. Is this warranted, though? To an extent, yes. If you are someone who burns the midnight oil to get a fantastic music album out on the streets only to find it being pirated and sold online or
downloaded for free by people, our guess is you will go the legal
way. But that does not mean P2P is illegal.
There are Web sites available that let you download 100 per
cent legal software, movies and music. Agreed, these are few in
number, but it is a beginning. Another factor that makes business
sense is the downloading of software that takes place from Web
sites. Using BitTorrent, this can be done much faster and also be
spread to other users. Therefore, the bottomline is that P2P software can be put to good use. Will it catch on? That is a question, which can be answered only a few years on from now.
