Bittorrent & uTorrent

Assalamualaikum,
I think most people, if not all at least heard about Bittorrent and torrent. If you advance user, this is NOT for you, I make this tutorial for the newbie who just know the online world. And I hope this tutorial can help you find your way to download the torrent and will be able to use extra functions from one of the best Bittorrent Client, if not THE best, µTorrent


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What is Bittorrent and Torrent?
Some people will probably laugh if you ask this question, especially during this broadband era. But people always have their 1st step some where, and I remembered it took me days before I figured out how to download Bittorrent file, and several months later before I actually could figure out how to configure the router’s firewall, and months after that before I start used advance Bittorrent. Enough with the story, let start.

Bittorrent is some sort of method to download file, utilize to big file. If you interested to know more, you can go to this website. BUT you don’t have to know much about Bittorrent, what you need is Bittorrent Client (See Why µTorrent?) to enable you to download, and then you can go to the website like Animesuki for anime or Mininova to download torrent. Torrent is only a small file which not more then 1Mb contain information you need for download. Open the file using your Bittorrent Client, and you download will begin.

What is special about Bittorrent is as soon you begin to download, you will start to upload as well. It important to know that the download speed is pretty much proportional to your upload speed, so the faster your upload speed, the faster your download will be, theorically (I will discuss it later). It important to know that seed stand for people who already finished download (morally speaking, you should open your client even after you finished download) and peers is people who downloading the file. No seed indicate most probably you will not get finished file. It always said, the more seeds and the more peers will likely make your download faster. I normally will try to find torrent which have more seeds, to get better download speed, but that always not the case.

Most torrent you download will require your computer to connect to tracker, which stored all the computers who download files, but most current advance Bittorrent client have a function known as DHT, which make your client act like normal P2P client like Kazaa, while maintain the superb speed and functionality Bittorrent have. But unfortunately not all torrent are registered as DHT enable, mostly from private tracker (tracker is like a normal website, and private tracker means you must register to their site before you can download the file, as it will monitor your download/upload ratio, which make torrent files from private tracker faster).


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Why µTorrent
There are lots of other Bittorrent client available to download, either free of paid (don’t bother the paid one). During my ‘online’ life, I try several of them, like

Bittorrent – this is where it all begin. The standard Bittorrent client which as it name suggest, don’t offer a lot of option to choose from. Well it not recommended to use it anyway unless you cannot use other client which unlikely to happen.

Bittornado – surely one of the 1st advance Bittorrent, offer some standard option such as limiting the upload and download speed, and port changing. The problem with this client is it use port range, and that make it harder for users to configure the firewall in their router. But I recommended for someone who connected directly through modem and want no-brainer solution to download torrent file.

Azureus – probably the most advance Bittorrent client currently available. It has so much features and setting which is good. As it written using java, it can be use in any Operation System as long as the system supports java. The only drawback is it consume a lot of CPU and RAM, sometimes I have to set it priority to low just to watch the movie. You don’t want to turn it on if you playing game!

ABC - A Bittornado based Bittorrent client which add queue function and use only one port. It quite an old client and does not has lot of functions.

Bitcomet - It a very fast client, maybe faster then µTorrent. It have most of the settings and function needed for advance Bittorrent client. The big problem with this client is the reputation it has with private tracker. Some private tracker won’t allowed you to download the file if you using Bitcomet.


µTorrent - Currently probably the best Bittorrent client available to download. It free, using only one port, fast, small and have extra setting and functionality.


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How to setting µTorrent
Believe or not, the reason why I still using Bittornado at the time when advance Bittorrent clients such as Bitcomet or Azureus already existed was because when I tried to use Bitcomet or Azureus (no µTorrent yet at that time) for the 1st time, there were lots of options and settings that I didn’t even know what it was.

After I did some reading and try n error method, here I’m, trying to give you step by step with screenshots on how to setting your µTorrent.


After you open your µTorrent, go to option – preferences, or you can just press ctrl+p. The new window will open which will look like this

Most of settings here are self explainable. I recommended you just follow all my setting.

On download, I just to point out the option ‘put new download in’. I recommended you to enable this function, and make a new folder in your hard disk (try not put the folder in Windows partition), so every time you download torrent, the download can start automatically without you have to tell µTorrent where to save each time you download new file. Leave other setting as default.

This is where you set your assigned port. You have to make sure you already set your Firewall (either from software, like Windows Firewall or from router) to allow this port. Normally port between 40000 – 65000 is choose as Bittorrent port. If you have router, you can refer how to here, and for software based firewall like ZoneAlarm can detect the port automatic, and you don’t have to worry about Windows Firewall, µTorrent will help you with the setup (see setting above).
In the section ’Bandwidth Limiting’, you will have to setup your setting according to your internet connection. As I said before, the download speed is somehow depending on your upload speed. Please don’t set to 0 (unlimited), you wont be able to use the internet. I would recommend that you set so that you will have at least 20% - 30% from your maximum upload speed free. If you don’t know what is your upload speed, you can check it here. (make sure you don’t use your internet during the test!).

In my case, I share my internet connection with my friend, and my maximum upload speed is 1000 kbps or ~ 100 KBps ( 1000kbps / 8 ). I make my setting so we both have upload speed of 35 KBps, so even when we open our Bittorrent, we still have 30 KBps (100 - 35 - 35) upload left for others online stuff. Just remember the most of the time, µTorrent will consume more upload speed than what we set, in my case it can go up to 50KBps even my setting only 35KBps.

In section ‘Number of Connection’ is where you maybe have to just guess, depend on your connection. Too high it will eat all your connection, even when your upload setting is set correctly. As I’m using 16000kbps connection shared with my friend and I’m alone will, supposedly have a 8000kbps (of course not, the router doesn’t work that way, see how router works here), above is my setting.

If I have a connection 1000kbps with 128kbps upload speed, I will probably set
Global maximum number of connection = 50
Maximum Number of connected peers per torrent = 30
Number of upload slot per torrent = 20
Just give a try and change it when you notice your download or your surfing is slow.

The maximum number of active torrent should be larger than maximum number of active download. Try to set it accordingly, and downloading 3 torrents at the same time normally slower (in my experience) than one torrent at a time, depend on the torrent.
It recommended you set the ratio to 100% and in µTorrent you can change the priority either seeding or downloading in section ‘seeding while’. The last option is where you set after the ratio is reached, you either can stop the seeding process by set to 0.

So in my setting only one download and one torrent will active at any given time. And µTorrent will make sure the all my torrent finished download first, after then it will begin seeding until the ratio is reach to 100%. (which is good, I want my download to finish first, I can be a good guy later by seeding)

Straight forward explanation. What really interesting is you can set any folder (mine is E:-Torrent) where you can put your downloaded *.torrent files, and µTorrent will detect the stored torrent and download the file, automatically.

I just change the default setting for ‘For Seeding Torrent’ to Open Folder, so if the download file is finished, I can directly access the files just by double click on the file in µTorrent.


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Check your Firewall setting (Port for your µTorrent) is correct
In µTorrent itself, you be able to check if your firewall @ router setting (the port is open) is correct in order for your bittorrent to work properly.



U can immediately check your setting by just checking the greed right symbol on the button of your µTorrent (will only appear when you download the file).


Go to Option – Speed-Guide or press ctrl + g, the new window will appear.

On the 2), make sure the Current Port: is the same port as you set in one of the steps above. Click the button beside it and the following page will appear (in your default webbrowser)

You have problem setting your router and/or firewall to work properly with µTorrent.

You are successfully setting your µTorrent to work properly.


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I hope this article will help you (the beginner) to setup your µTorrent to work as it suppose to be. You can go to FAQ in µTorrent official website if you have any problem or you can ask it here, I will help if I can.

Have a nice day.

Setting Router's Firewall

Assalamualaikum,
Bittorrent become a very popular especially transferring @ downloading a very large files. But to make sure the connection your Bittorrent Client receive is clear, means you set your firewall so that the port your client use is allowed is, most of the time hard to configure, especially if you are using unpopular router or your router has complicated setting like D-Link. So here I want to maybe give a little help on how to setting your router’s Firewall. so you can download your Bittorrent faster.

I just want to point out one that for this tutorial, I use Windows XP SP2 and my Bittorrent Client is uTorrent. You can use any Bittorrent client as long as your Bittorrent Client use only one port (Azureus, Bitcomet). You can find it more on advantage and how to configure uTorrent here.


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The Router
I think it better if we understand more about router and what it do.

It well known if you want to share your internet connection, the easiest way is to buy a router. . The router will enables you to share your internet connection using only one IP-Address i.e. using one internet connection. Router will monitor all computers connected to it. In other words, it acts like small server, which is why it has its own IP-Address.

Depend on price, the router you buy normally only have a ‘basic’ setting to administer your network and internet connection. One of miss concept about the router is that, if you have 2 computers connected to the router and your internet connection is 2000kbps (~200KBps), each of you don’t necessary will have 1000kbps. It doesn’t divide your connection evenly. So you still capable to download at full speed even if 4 computers connected to your router, providing all the others don’t use internet at all. It like ‘1st come 1st serve’ concept. If your friend is using the entire upload speed, you will have trouble connected to internet. That why it important to make sure, if you share internet, you set your Bittorrent client or other P2P client accordingly.

Most router in the market are build-in firewall to protect your computer, but at the same time it make your Bittorrent and other P2P software like Kazaa and Limewire have slow download speed. It because the build-in firewall in your, as default, block unknown port. (Port 80 is normally should not be block by your router, Port 80 is use to surf internet). In this tutorial I want to show you how to open the port, so you can download faster, not only in download speed, but also the time needed to reach that speed.


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The 1st Step: Change to static IP

I recommend using set your IP to static instead automatic (default setting in Windows XP) because;
1. Your computer will connect faster to your router.
2. You’ll find later it easier to configure your Firewall setting (in your router) if you have more than one computer connect to your router.

The first thing to do before we begin is to know your router’s IP address. Easiest way is to look at manual, but unfortunately not all routers is supply with that info. To find out yourself, go to START – Run and type cdm. It will open the command prompt. After that you type ipconfig and press Enter, the following information will appear.

From here you know that only Local Area Connection 2 is connected to the router (it because I have 3 LAN-connection) and have an IP address of 192.168.0.111. The value of default gateway is actually your router address (192.168.0.10). To make sure you got the right IP, try type that numbers in your web browser (Firefox, Internet Explorer etc) and it should lead you to your router configuration page.

**Normal default setting for the router IP-Address is end with *.1, for example 192.168.0.1 or maybe 192.168.2.1. In my case I change my router IP-Address (you don’t have to do so). I explain why in NOTE at the end of this tutorial.

Now you can set your computer’s IP address. Go to control panel - Network Connections. Search for connected Local Area Connection (as above example, it should be Local Area Connection 2), then right click – Properties; choose Internet Protocol(TCP/IP). Its will look like this:

You can set your IP-address the same as before (192.168.0.111 in this example) or you can set your own number. Of course not just any number. In the example above, the valid IP-address range usually any number from 192.168.0.1 to 192.168.0.199. But you cannot choose 192.168.0.10 as your IP-address! (your IP-Address cannot be the same as router!!! ) So if your router is 192.166.4.1, you can normally choose from 192.166.4.2 -192.166.4.199.

But it easier if you just use this formula, 192.168.0.XX or 192.168.0.1XX, where the numbers is your router IP-address and the X or XX is any number from. Just remember your IP-address cannot same as your router.

*You don’t have to do this step to other computer connected to the router YET. Go to 2nd step first.


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The 2nd Step: Configure your Router Firewall

For DSL users, it very common having a router, but setting the router maybe a bit too difficult, especially for newbie. Because there are lot of different router in the market, and every single of them have different type of menu and setting, it not possible for me to cover all of them, but in my experience, the router’s setting almost the same, even when the menu is different. So if you familiar with the configuration, you will find your way after that.

Before we start, there are 2 things you have to decide
1. The port you want to assign to your and other computers. Normally for Bittorrent, the port between 40000 – 65000 is a good choice.
2. IP-address corresponding to the port, as the one port is only for one computer (that why it easier to use Bittorrent Client which use only one port) Remember the port cannot be shared!!!. You have to put other port for other computer.

Example:
Computer ::: IP-ADDRESS ::: PORT

Your Router ::: 192.168.0.1 ::: -
Your Computer ::: 192.168.0.10 ::: 65000
Computer 1 ::: 192.168.0.20 ::: 60000
Computer 2 ::: 192.168.0.30 ::: 55000
Computer 3 ::: 192.168.0.40 ::: 50000

Computer 1, 2 & 3 are computers connected to your router. Notice that I assigned the IP-addresses that easy to remember. I recommended if you leave some space (interval 10 for example) between each IP-addresses, as I have experience it caused problem later, somehow. But normally it should be no problem.
Just as reminder, until this moment I do not apply the 1st step to other computer YET. That will be done later.

Now we begin to configure the router. I have experience in configuring the router from D-Link, Netgear and Fritz!box. Although the menu is totally different, but the step is always the same, put the IP-addresses and the port for that particular IP-address (computer).

I list some of useful link for here (you should go to your router’s manufacturer website to get help):-
D-Link Router:- http://support.dlink.com/faq
Netgear:- http://kbserver.netgear.com/main.asp
Useful Link:- http://www.portforward.com/default.htm (Go here if you can find it on your router’s manufacturer website)

But you use a rare and unique router, or you find the tutorial from the website is hard to understand, don’t worry, there still hope…

For this tutorial, I using my router configuration as reference (I’m using Fritz!box 2070 – German)

Browse into your router’s menu. (to do so, type your router IP-address on your web browser). Try to find a setting/option that enables you to put your IP-address & your port. The name of the option should be different. (for example, in D-Link the option is under the name, Virtual server)

After you put all the IP-addresses and their ports, you can now begin to setting other computer following the 1st step (Change to static IP). After you change others computer’s IP-Adresses, test the setting by browse the internet.

After that you must set your Bittorrent client to receive information from this Port. (You can find how in this article, only for uTorrent)
Example (from above):- for Computer 2 which has IP-Address 192.168.0.33, the correct port is 55000.

*You can do the 2nd step to configure port for other application like eDonkey, Limewire and mIRC. Just remember, you have to assign different port than above, because the port can be use only for one application at a time
Example (from above):- To configure port for Limewire for Computer 2 (192.168.0.33), your can choice port like 45000 or maybe 20000.



NOTE:-
*As you notice my router-IP-address is not end with *.1. I change my router’s IP-address because I connected my router to other router so we can share files even though we using two different router with different internet connection. As a basic law in setting the IP-address in network is IP-ADDRESS CANNOT BE THE SAME, no matter if it IP-address for computer or router, it have to be different!