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diff --git a/TRACKERLESS.txt b/TRACKERLESS.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6d33218 --- /dev/null +++ b/TRACKERLESS.txt @@ -0,0 +1,47 @@ +As of version 4.1.0, BitTorrent now includes "trackerless" operation. +While it is called trackerless, in practice it makes every client a +lightweight tracker. A clever protocol allows clients to efficiently +store and retrieve ip-address/port information for torrents. + +When generating a torrent, you can choose to utilize the trackerless +system or a traditional dedicated tracker. A dedicated tracker allows +you to collect statistics about downloads and gives you a measure of +control over the reliability of downloads. The trackerless system +makes no guarantees to reliability but requires no resources of the +publisher. The trackerless system is not consulted when downloading a +traditionally tracked torrent. + +The trackerless protocol runs over UDP. If you are forwarding a TCP +port on your firewall to enhance BitTorrent operation you should also +forward the same UDP port. Many NAT devices, including wireless +access points and DSL routers, automatically forward UDP ports. Even +if your particular arrangement doesn't allow for reliable service to +others in the trackerless protocol, your client should still be able +use the system to find peers. + +Each client in the trackerless system maintains a routing table of +some of the other clients in the system. No client has a complete +directory of every other client in the system, it is distributed among +all clients. To find another client, an iterative protocol is used to +find closer and closer clients, until the desired one is found. +Before this process can be started, the routing table must contain at +least one valid entry. Clients acquire the contact information of +other clients during the course of normal use, but a newly installed +client has no contacts and no way of entering the network. + +There are two ways a newly installed client obtains contacts for the +trackerless system. The first is through tracked torrents. When +connected to another BitTorrent client that supports the trackerless +system, the peers will exchange contact information for the +trackerless system. The other way to get bootstrapped into the +trackerless system is by using contact information stored in +trackerless torrent files. When you create a trackerless torrent, +contact information from your routing table is automatically included +to help newly installed clients with no contacts. An alternative is +to include the contact information of known stable clients or special +"routing" clients. A routing client doesn't provide torrent tracking +service, it only provides contact information. When specifying the +contact information for a trackerless torrent, separate the IP address +and port with a colon and separate contacts with a comma +i.e. "router.bittorrent.com:6881, 127.0.0.1:8080" + |