Hi, so I've been trying to d/l a lot of torrents and nothing seems to work. They're all stuck on 'downloading metadata' but when I try to download those on another torrent client, it works. I have this same problem. I'm running BitTorrent Total Security however after this started happening I disabled the firewall and antivirus. Currently trying to download 31 torrents, about half have 'Downloading metadata' in the status bar, and it appears to be random when it comes to which torrents this happens to. Windows/Mac: A quick look at a video file's metadata can tell you which one you need for which device, and whether you have a good copy or need to download or rip it again. Save yourself the. Another advantage of downloading torrents is the shortened download time needed for a file. As stated above, the more peers that share a file, the faster the download will be. There is also less risk for file corruption when using torrents since the BitTorrent protocol regularly checks each piece of the file in the swarm.
In the BitTorrent file distribution system, a torrent file or meta-info file is a computer file that contains metadata about files and folders to be distributed, and usually also a list of the network locations of trackers, which are computers that help participants in the system find each other and form efficient distribution groups called swarms.[1] A torrent file does not contain the content to be distributed; it only contains information about those files, such as their names, folder structure, and sizes obtained via cryptographic hash values for verifying file integrity. The term torrent may refer either to the metadata file or to the files downloaded, depending on the context.
A torrent file acts like a table of contents (index) that allows computers to find information through the use of a Bittorrent client. A torrent file gives addresses identifying computers that can send parts of the requested file. With the help of a torrent file, one can download small parts of the original file from computers that have already downloaded it. Chithram malayalam movie songs free mp3. These 'peers' allow for downloading of the file in addition to, or in place of, the primary server.
Torrent files are normally named with the extension '.torrent'.
Torrent files themselves and the method of using torrent files have been created to ease the load on central servers, as instead of sending a file to for request, it can crowd-source the bandwidth needed for the file transfer, and reduce the time needed to download large files. Many free/freeware programs and operating systems, such as the various Linux distributions and GIMP, offer a torrent download option for users seeking the aforementioned benefits. Other large downloads, such as media files, are often torrented as well.
| Filename extension | |
|---|---|
| Internet media type | application/x-bittorrent |
| Standard | BEP-0003[1] |
Background[edit]
Typically, Internet access is asymmetrical, supporting greater download speeds than upload speeds, limiting the bandwidth of each download, and sometimes enforcing bandwidth caps and periods where systems are not accessible. This creates inefficiency when many people want to obtain the same set of files from a single source; the source must always be online and must have massive outbound bandwidth. The BitTorrent protocol addresses this by decentralizing the distribution, leveraging the ability of people to network 'peer-to-peer', among themselves.
Each file to be distributed is divided into small information chunks called pieces. Downloading peers achieve high download speeds by requesting multiple pieces from different computers simultaneously in the swarm. Once obtained, these pieces are usually immediately made available for download by others in the swarm. In this way, the burden on the network is spread among the downloaders, rather than concentrating at a central distribution hub or cluster. As long as all the pieces are available, peers (downloaders and uploaders) can come and go; no one peer needs to have all the chunks, or to even stay connected to the swarm in order for distribution to continue among the other peers.
A small torrent file is created to represent a file or folder to be shared. The torrent file acts as the key to initiating downloading of the actual content. Someone interested in receiving the shared file or folder first obtains the corresponding torrent file, either by directly downloading it, or by using a magnet link. The user then opens that file in a BitTorrent client, which automates the rest of the process. In order to learn the Internet locations of peers which may be sharing pieces, the client connects to the trackers named in the torrent file, and/or achieves a similar result through the use of distributed hash tables. Then the client connects directly to the peers in order to request pieces and otherwise participate in a swarm. The client may also report progress to trackers, to help the tracker with its peer recommendations.
When the client has all the pieces, the BitTorrent client assembles them into a usable form. They may also continue sharing the pieces, elevating its status to that of seeder rather than ordinary peer.
File structure[edit]
A torrent file contains a list of files and integrity metadata about all the pieces, and optionally contains a list of trackers.
Naruto shippuden movie 5 blood prison sub indo mp4. A torrent file is a bencodeddictionary with the following keys (the keys in any bencoded dictionary are lexicographically ordered):
- announce—the URL of the tracker
- info—this maps to a dictionary whose keys are dependent on whether one or more files are being shared:
- files—a list of dictionaries each corresponding to a file (only when multiple files are being shared). Each dictionary has the following keys:
- length—size of the file in bytes.
- path—a list of strings corresponding to subdirectory names, the last of which is the actual file name
- length—size of the file in bytes (only when one file is being shared)
- name—suggested filename where the file is to be saved (if one file)/suggested directory name where the files are to be saved (if multiple files)
- piece length—number of bytes per piece. This is commonly 28 KiB = 256 KiB = 262,144 B.
- pieces—a hash list, i.e., a concatenation of each piece's SHA-1 hash. As SHA-1 returns a 160-bit hash, pieces will be a string whose length is a multiple of 20 bytes. If the torrent contains multiple files, the pieces are formed by concatenating the files in the order they appear in the files dictionary (i.e. all pieces in the torrent are the full piece length except for the last piece, which may be shorter).
- files—a list of dictionaries each corresponding to a file (only when multiple files are being shared). Each dictionary has the following keys:
All strings must be UTF-8 encoded, except for pieces, which contains binary data.
A torrent is uniquely identified by an infohash, a SHA-1 hash calculated over the contents of the info dictionary in bencode form. Changes to other portions of the torrent does not affect the hash. This hash is used to identify the torrent to other peers via DHT and to the tracker. It is also used in magnet links.
Extensions[edit]
A torrent file can also contain additional metadata defined in extensions to the BitTorrent specification.[2] These are known as 'BitTorrent Enhancement Proposals.' Examples of such proposals include metadata for stating who created the torrent, and when.
Draft extensions[edit]
These extensions are under consideration for standardization.
Distributed hash tables[edit]
BEP-0005[3] extends BitTorrent to support distributed hash tables.
A trackerless torrent dictionary does not have an announce key. Instead, a trackerless torrent has a nodes key:
For example,
The specification recommends that nodes 'should be set to the K closest nodes in the torrent generating client's routing table. Alternatively, the key could be set to a known good node such as one operated by the person generating the torrent.' Unipro sensus download 2.6.2.
Multiple trackers[edit]
BEP-0012[4] extends BitTorrent to support multiple trackers.
A new key, announce-list, is placed in the top-most dictionary (i.e. with announce and info)
HTTP seeds[edit]
BEP-0017[5] extends BitTorrent to support HTTP seeds.
A new key, httpseeds, is placed in the top-most list (i.e. with announce and info). This key's value is a list of web addresses where torrent data can be retrieved:
Private torrents[edit]
BEP-0027[6] extends BitTorrent to support private torrents.
A new key, private, is placed in the info dictionary. This key's value is 1 if the torrent is private:
Private torrents are to be used with a tracker; decentalized methods like DHT, PeX, LSD are disabled to maintain the centralized control. A private torrent can be manually edited to remove the private flag, but doing so will change the info-hash, forming a separate 'swarm' of peers.
Merkle trees[edit]
BEP-0030[7] extends BitTorrent to support Merkle trees. The purpose is to reduce the file size of torrent files, which reduces the burden on those that serve torrent files.
A torrent file using Merkle trees does not have a pieces key in the info list. Instead, such a torrent file has a root_hash key in the info list. This key's value is the root hash of the Merkle hash:
Examples[edit]
Single file[edit]
Here is what a de-bencoded torrent file (with piece length 256 KiB = 262,144 bytes) for a file debian-503-amd64-CD-1.iso (whose size is 678 301 696 bytes) might look like:
Note: pieces here would be a 51 KiB value (⌈lengthpiecelength⌉×160=414080bits{displaystyle {color {Blue}leftlceil {color {Black}{frac {mathtt {length}}{mathtt {piece length}}}}rightrceil }times 160=414080 mathrm {bits} }).
Multiple files[edit]
Here is what a de-bencoded torrent file (with 'piece length' 256 KiB = 262144 B) for two files, 111.txt and 222.txt, might look like:
Torrent Metadata
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ ab'BEP-0003: The BitTorrent Protocol Specification'. Bittorrent.org. Retrieved 2009-10-22.
- ^'BEP-0000: Index of BitTorrent Enhancement Proposals'. Bittorrent.org. Retrieved 2009-10-22.
- ^'BEP-0005: DHT Protocol'. Bittorrent.org. Retrieved 2009-10-22.
- ^'BEP-0012: Multitracker Metadata Extension'. Bittorrent.org. Retrieved 2009-10-22.
- ^'BEP-0017: HTTP Seeding'. Bittorrent.org. Retrieved 2009-10-22.
- ^'BEP-0027: Private Torrents'. Bittorrent.org. Retrieved 2009-10-22.
- ^'BEP-0030: Merkle hash torrent extension'. Bittorrent.org. Retrieved 2009-10-22.
External links[edit]
What is a torrent?
Most likely, you've heard of a torrent, used a torrent, or at least seen that term on the internet somewhere. And whether you have actually used them or not, a lot of people don't know what it actually is. Let's talk basics here…
What is a torrent?
When you hear the word 'torrent' in the tech world, it usually refers to a computer file that contains metadata holding various information. A torrent file normally comes with the extension .torrent but it does not contain the actual contents to be distributed.
This information will then be used by a BitTorrent software such as uTorrent, Transmission or BitTorrent for the 'real' distribution – which essentially allows for users to easily download torrent files to their personal computers.
In retrospect, due to the ease of use of BitTorrent technology, many torrent users end up downloading copyrighted materials unknowingly. This is of course frowned upon in many countries and some have been prohibiting illegal torrents by means of incarceration. Now, that doesn't mean all torrents are unsafe for consumption. There's plenty of legal torrent sites out there which you can use. Check out our own list of these legal torrent sites below.
Download Legal Torrents From These Sites
How does a torrent work?
In short, a torrent file acts as the key to initiating downloading of the actual content. When someone is interested in receiving a shared file (i.e. books, music, documents, etc.), they must first obtain the corresponding torrent file – by either downloading the .torrent file directly or by using a magnet link.
A BitTorrent software is then required to open this file/link. Once the BitTorrent software scans the torrent file/link, it'll then need to find the locations of seeders which are sharing the corresponding file. To do so, it will attempt to connect to a list of defined trackers (from the torrent file metadata) and attempt a direct connection. If it's successful, the appropriate content will then begin transferring.
Note: A torrent download can be done in fragments, so in reality you're actually downloading bits of pieces of the full content which is later reassembled when all of the pieces are received.
Where can i find torrents?
To find torrent files, users commonly flock to popular websites such as The Pirate Bay and Kickass Torrents. Although these websites are crazy popular, they have been getting shut down left and right, causing mirror sites to sprout up around the internet. Even though torrents are technically legal, over the years it has become synonymous to illegal activity due to a myriad of users abusively sharing pirated content.
Essentially, you've got to know what content is legal and what's illegal before starting any torrent connection. If you're looking for torrent sites which provides legal torrent contents, check out our list of sites that allow you to download torrents legally.
Why is torrenting dangerous?
Downloading torrents can always be dangerous due to the fact that other peers will be able to see your IP address. Lots of production and record companies hire people to go in and report all these IP addresses being found downloading torrents so that they can be passed along to ISPs. The ISPs will then liaise with law enforcement agencies to prevent the file from being downloaded further, which may include incarcerating the operators or users.
Connecting to a Virtual Private Network (VPN) would allow you to change your IP address and keep you anonymous while downloading torrents. This is a crucial tool to use when downloading torrents so that your ISP does not know what you are doing.
Note: Due to issues with DMCA requests, torrenting is only available on our Malaysia and Russia servers. Read about DMCA on Electronic Frontier Foundation's website here.
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