Sharing files via torrents is all about “tracking and swarming”. Users download numerous small parts from numerous different sources, simultaneously. This is actually many times faster than the standard downloading of a large, single file, from a single source.

“Swarming” – splitting files into tens, hundreds or even thousands of smaller pieces – bits – and then sharing those pieces across a “swarm” of interconnected users.

“Tracking” refers to servers helping swarm users find each other.

Swarm members use special software to download, upload and put together, or reconstruct, downloaded bits into complete files that can be used.

Kazaa vs. Torrent. BitTorrent network differs from the rival Kazaa network in one major way: BitTorrent is REAL Peer to Peer sharing. Instead of having “publisher servers” dish out some files, as is the case with Kazaa, BitTorrent users do the actual file sharing. Users voluntarily upload files to swarms without worrying about paying fees or advertisement revenue. Despite this, there is something that motivates BitTorrent users – not money, but rather a Pay It Forward cooperative spirit.

Torrent sharing made easy: if you have files that you’re sharing on Bittorrent, you will be rewarded. Most common reward is higher download speeds. Conversely, if you only settle with “leeching” and choose not to share files, you will be punished. In most cases, this means slower download speeds.

How do they do this? Download speeds are continuously monitored and controlled by BitTorrent trackers, or tracking servers – these monitor all of their users. If you share files, the tracker will detect you doing so and you will be rewarded by getting your allotted swarm bandwidth increased. However, if you decide to leech and you limit your uploading speeds, trackers will choke your download speed. You can say that the Pay It Forward philosophy is indeed enforced! Here is something to remember: leeches are NOT welcome in the BitTorrent community.

How to start using Bittorrents?

Six ingredients are needed:

1. A BitTorrent client software. You are free to choose from any of the 20-30 existent. However, keep in mind that some trackers restrict access for certain clients that can easily be exploited. You should check with your torrent site before you decide on one particular client.

2. A tracker server (hundreds of free ones exist, if you run across one that requires fees to use, search for another one).

3. A .torrent file, pointing to the file/song/movie you wish to download.

4. A torrent site from where you can download .torrent files – http://www.btScene.com/.

5. An Internet connection that has port 6881 (most commonly used port by torrent clients) to allow downloading/uploading. Other ports can be used, too.

6. An understanding of file management. To make file sharing work, you will have to navigate through tens of filenames and folders.

At the very worst, it will take you a few hours to set up your PC/Mac to swarm Torrents. If you are not using a software firewall or a hardware router, setting up will probably not take you more than 15-20 minutes, time in which you will be installing the Torrent client you have chosen. However, if you do have a firewall or router, most likely you will get “NAT” messages with the client’s first runs. This is because your client has not yet been permitted access by your firewall/router. Once you’ve successfully opened port 6881 on your firewall/router, the NAT messages will stop and your client should be able to work regularly.