In preparation for 1.0 - How to use Bittorrent

HOW TO USE BITTORRENT
You may be confused by the new flashy tech stuff we (or, to be more precise, I) have been touting the last few days. What is this Bittorrent of which you speak, I hear you ask?

Very briefly, Bittorrent is a protocol for sharing files. Its principles involve chopping up a file into tiny pieces, which those who want to download can get from any source. Once all the pieces are collected, the file is reconstructed and can be used. All the people downloading EB will upload the pieces they have to others at the same time as they're downloading, making it faster the more people are downloading at the moment, as opposed to other ways of distribution where more people downloading means they queue up. For more information, check out this Bittorrent FAQ

Even more confused now? Then this is for you.
You want to:

• Download a Bittorrent client, for instance uTorrent, BitComet or Azureus.
• Install the client of your choice somewhere on your disk.
• Click the torrent file that we will make available. Open this file with your torrent client. It should be the default choice of action when clicking it.
• Choose the location where EB should be placed!
• Play the old EB you've installed until the download finishes!

But it downloads really slow, or not at all!
Some of you will probably have an impediment in your network, and this is the symptom. For instance you could be connected to a university or military network which blocks this kind of traffic (you're screwed), or your own Internet Service Provider does (this can be remedied in most cases but might be tricky). You could want to find a random torrent to experiment on before EB comes out so you're ready when the time comes. The internet is crawling with these links, but be careful not to download something illegal.

If you fail, there will be other mirrors eventually. But if you want to be among the first to get EB, Torrent is your bet! You are encouraged to learn how to get around these network issues. Here's a how to. The Bittorrent FAQ mentioned above will also be helpful.

Back to the techy stuff:
Please consider seeding EB, for a couple of weeks if not indefinitely. This means allowing others to keep downloading pieces from you after you have finished downloading them all. The way to do this varies from client to client, but usually involves looking at the properties once it's being downloaded. Find a checkmark or the like denoting something like "Initial seeding", and make sure it's checked. Leave open the Bittorrent client after downloading and it will keep serving it.

Thanks bovi, you've no idea how useful that was for me, having never used a torrent before I was absolutely clueless.

I assume this is a reasonable way to download even with dial up?

Yes, but it will still take a long while. You might want to consider seeing if a friend can help you out.

Generally, the downstream is dependent on the number of people seeding (uploading). A number of people on the team will probably be seeding long before you guys in the outside world start downloading (leeching). From there on out bits and pieces will be spread out and bandwidth shared among all those participating in the torrent. General etiquette is that you should upload as much as you download, which drastically helps everyone else, but it would be preferable that you leave it open as Bovi stated. Also, by limiting your upstream you limit your downstream.

Do we have to use Bittorrent? I just use a normal download manager can't I use one for EB 1.0?

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Originally Posted by Xehh II

Do we have to use Bittorrent? I just use a normal download manager can't I use one for EB 1.0?

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Once enough people get it via torrent, some kind souls will probably upload it to a few mirrors (like filefront etc), unless we do it first that is...

I'm still confused with this torrents. eg if I have speed limit of 128kbit, does this means that DL speed will be more than that?

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Originally Posted by Charge

I'm still confused with this torrents. eg if I have speed limit of 128kbit, does this means that DL speed will be more than that?

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The torrent should ensure that your speed limit is reached but it can in no way increase your bandwidth.

I still like old methods better. P2P always hides some nasty infections around...

I suppose one could maximize bandwidth through optimization of TCP by tweaking buffer and RWIN values, however that is not relevant to the issue, lest one is pretty hardcore about this stuff.

Bittorrent is great for the purpose of distributing a large file to several people because it facilitates simultaneous upload/download through an individual ring-model effectively eliminating queues (In the ideal condition). There is a whole lot more to this, but it is based on the principle of giving packets to peers who require the specifics, and requesting the packets that you lack; When there are several users, the synergy-effect may exponentially improve. It does require a bit of a know-how on networking to fully maximize the advantages of torrent, but most do learn by pure curiosity after using the system for a while; It's not hard, you download a file which contains a checksum and the address to a tracker, and if your firewall/router/NAT doesn't complain it's smooth-sailing from there. When you finish downloading you automatically become a seeder fully uploading the file packet per packet to the remaining peers. It's not hard, just a different way of downloading things.

So by the sounds of it I am wrong in my assumption that download speed is set by how much you can upload?

Question: Do you have any idea of the size of EB 1.0?

Our proxy at work blocks BitTorrent and the likes (as well as just about anything else of any interest) and I have a download limit on my Broadband at home so I need to start figuring out if my limit will cope or if I need to start tapping up a mate

Intial estimates suggest 650mb for the installer.

Foot

People with limited traffic amount should not seed, as it will probably spend the max capacity on uploads until the limit is quickly reached. Those of you stuck with such an archaic deal may want to consider finding a better service provider, unless it is significantly cheaper to stay with your current one.

I'll post some mirrors (Rapidshare, megaupload, filefront...) when it comes out. I got access to a very nice 2.4mb/s upload/download connection, so it won't take long to put up some mirrors :)

It would be great if you guys would split the installer into segements of about 50~100mb (with winrar or winzip), so I can start uploading the parts I have, while still downloading others :idea2:

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Originally Posted by Janius

I'll post some mirrors (Rapidshare, megaupload, filefront...)

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Imagine the idle time between the DLs at rapidshare...no, thats a real torture.

Hmmm 650 MB is almost twice as large as .8x. Looks like I'll have to hit up my pops for his cable connection for an hour or two. :2thumbsup:

Please do not upload EB to any mirror yourself; it's a waste of time since people on the team will do this too. The reason why we release it as Torrent initially is to get some good speeds quickly; not to bar the people without Torrents from getting a DL.

So the torrent is more of like a "pre-ordered" copy of EB; or seeing it as a way to pay for all the drinks you had on the house in the tavern ~;)

The main reason why the EB team would prefer to handle the Uploading to Mirrors stuff themselves is that we can keep track of where it ends up (useful for tracking the stats); and to make sure that all EB version uploaded are not corrupted.

whoa, a 650 mb exe? How big is the unpacked file, 2 gigs? :inquisitive: :2thumbsup:

EDIT: just checked the mainpage, nearly 100.000 downloads of EB 0.81x (includ. patches). Awesome!

Considering, last time I heard, they changed/added over 19000 files in the game (probably even more now), it probably will unpack into something like 2 gigs.

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Originally Posted by Bootsiuv

Considering, last time I heard, they changed/added over 19000 files in the game (probably even more now), it probably will unpack into something like 2 gigs.

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Make it 3.6GB and you'll get it right.

Not quite true, Bozos. I count 1.7 GB when excluding the duplicate stuff.

Well, 3.6 is the size of my EB folder...

My internal build reaches 3.59 GB ... easily. (As in properties of EB folder; size on disk.)

Then again that's the internal build; it may have some left overs from previous versions...

Mine's 1.59 GB, though that's an old build, last of the Helix family.

Call me stupid, but where/how do I find something to test download?

Edit: Nevermind, I found something random to download at http://www.torrentportal.com/

1.2 -> 1.7 gigs? Oh crap. I guess loading with 512 RAM will be longer than Gothic3, and swaps during playing assured...

You play Gothic3 with 512MB? Oh, the pain. Actually, that game was a pain regardless of hardware. Nothing 24 patches can't fix though.

eh, fuhgeddit. Brain fart.

Yeah well, my 3.59 GB's are the result of numerous updates with Tortoise...