The BitTorrent Protocol

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What is BitTorrent?


Efficient content distribution system using
file swarming. Usually does not perform
all the functions of a typical p2p system,
like searching.


BitTorrent traffic


CacheLogic estimated (around 2003 or so0 that BitTorrent
Traffic accounts for roughly 35% of all traffic on the Internet


File sharing



To share a file or group of files, a peer first
creates a .torrent file, a small file that contains

metadata about the files to be shared, and
Information about the tracker, the computer
that coordinates the file distribution.

Peers first obtain a .torrent file, and then connect
to the specified tracker, which tells them from which
other peers to download the pieces of the file.