What are seeds and peers in a torrent - Super Seed in a torrent

Seeds and peers in a torrent are the most important component of the tracker, without which it is impossible to download files. But few users understand what these concepts mean, although it is impossible to imagine a client without them. At the same time, having understood the meaning of these words, you will be able to not only understand why they are needed, but also find out how the service works. As a result, people who need to download something useful will be able to choose a file that will download faster. And speed is one of the most important advantages of a torrent, so there is no point in voluntarily depriving yourself of such an advantage.

What does the word distributed in a torrent mean?

Distribution is the process of file exchange between users (uploading and uploading from your computer). Why should the user give it away when you can simply download the software without losing Internet traffic and connection speed? It's simple. The main principle of all trackers is to download it yourself and share it with a friend.

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Who are seeds, peers and leechers?

The process of exchanging data through file-sharing networks implies the presence of several participants - at least two. Distributing and downloading.

Each participant in the distribution performs a specific role and is designated by a special term.

Peer is any user who takes part in the file sharing process. Regardless of whether he distributes or downloads data. Initializing the exchange process automatically assigns the user to peer status. The peer counter on the torrent tracker shows the total number of users on a given distribution.
Seed is a user who has a complete copy of the files on his computer. This status is automatically assigned to the user who created the distribution. This is understandable - after all, he initially has all the necessary data. Also, any person who joins the distribution and successfully completes it goes into this status. As a result, he also has a complete copy of the data. From the “Peer” status, you can switch to the “Seed” status, having successfully downloaded all files.
Leech - as we have already noted, any participant in the exchange of data has the status of “peer”. This does not depend on the completeness of the information available to him. For users who are currently downloading the distribution, but do not yet have a full copy of it, an additional term “Lich” has been introduced.

Frequently asked questions when downloading via torrent

Although torrenting is quite simple, not all users understand how to use this program. At a certain stage, questions arise about her work. Most often, users cannot figure out why the download error appears, how to launch a just downloaded movie, or how to set the speed limit. Questions about changing the language in the program, downloading and options for opening torrent files arise less frequently.

Download speed is important for any user. Therefore, among all the questions, one stands out as the most popular among people. How to “overclock” a torrent?

How to increase download speed via torrent

Below are twelve ways to ensure high-speed torrent downloads:

Step 1. The higher the speed according to the tariff, the better. For example, with an Internet speed of 128 kbit/s, the download speed will not exceed 13 kbit/s, since the speed is lost depending on the quality of the provider and the use of wifi.

Step 2. It’s worth trying to go into the torrent settings. If there is a checkmark in the “reception speed limit” column, it will be useful to remove it.

Step 3. Downloading files one by one (not all in a pile) will significantly improve the speed.

Step 4. Before you start downloading the file, you need to make sure there are a large number of seeds.

Step 5. You need to configure the client and make changes to the maximum number of TCP connections.

Step 6. Open the task manager and close unnecessary programs that have a bad effect on download speed.

Step 7. Refuse to automatically update programs (this is done manually).

Step 8: Disabling firewall and antivirus will improve speed.

Step 9. If there are suspicions that the provider has something to do with the dropped speed, it would be appropriate to select a random port each time you open the program. You can also enable encryption.

Step 10: The client must not be outdated. It needs to be updated as new versions are released.

Step 11. It is appropriate to ask users for help in downloading. To do this, you need to go to the forum of this file and write a message.

Step 12. Distributing your own torrents to increase your rating will come in handy.

Adviсe:

1. There is no need to waste time downloading optimizers to increase Internet speed. The increase will be insignificant and only due to the closure of some processes.

2. Forced start is not the best feature. It reduces the speed of each file individually and increases the number of torrents. The program is more suitable for distribution.

Why are there no peers in torrents?

Often, having noticed that there are no peers in a torrent, the user thinks that there are simply no seeding machines on the network. But this is far from true.

First of all, you need to realize that the work of a “file sharing” service can be frozen by an antivirus or blocked at the system level. This happens because such programs contain pirated content. Windows protection may contain automatic settings that suspend programs with questionable content.

The torrent program is simple and unpretentious when used correctly. It is suitable for both beginners and confident PC users who want to quickly and free download a game, movie or program that interests them.

SEED

This article should be Wikified. Please format it according to the article formatting rules.

This term has other meanings, see Seed (meanings).

Korea Information Security Agency (KISA)

1998

128 bit

Feistel network

SEED is a symmetric block cryptographic algorithm based on the Feistel Network, developed by the Korean Information Security Agency (KISA) in 1998. The algorithm uses a 128-bit block and a 128-bit key. The algorithm is widely used by financial and banking institutions, manufacturing enterprises and budgetary institutions in South Korea, and has become widespread since 40-bit SSL does not currently provide the minimum required level of security. The Information Security Agency has specified the use of the SEED cipher in the TLS and S/MIME protocols. At the same time, the SEED algorithm is not implemented in most modern browsers and Internet applications, which makes it difficult to use in this area outside of South Korea.

SEED is a Feistel Network with 16 rounds, 128-bit blocks and a 128-bit key. The algorithm uses two 8×8 lookup tables, which, as such from Safer, are derived from discrete exponentiation (in this case, x247 and x251 - plus some "incompatible operations"). This is somewhat similar to MISTY1 in the recursiveness of its structure: the 128-bit full cipher is a Feistel network with an F-function acting on the 64-bit halves, while the F-function itself is a Feistel network composed of a G-Function operating into 32-bit halves. However, the recursion does not extend further because the G-Function is not a Feistel Network. In the G-Function, a 32-bit word is treated as four 8-bit bytes, each of which is passed through one or another lookup table, then combined into a moderately complex set of Boolean functions such that each output bit depends on 3 of the 4 input bytes.

SEED has a complex key schedule, generating thirty-two 32-bit additional symbols using G-Functions on a series of spins of the original raw key, combined with special round constants (as in TEA) from the Golden Ratio.

> Security

According to KISA research, algorithm.

What is affected by the number of seeds, peers and liches in the distribution?

To answer this question, you need to remember the principle of operation of file-sharing networks. Any user who joins the distribution can download the file or part of it simultaneously from all available sources. Accordingly, the more sources, the higher the download speed.

From this we can conclude that the more seeds, peers and liches participate in the current distribution, the higher the speed with which you can download files. General parameters also depend on the speed of the Internet connection of the participants. But the general principle does not change - the speed is higher where there are more distributors.

Where to look?

This data is published on torrent trackers, in the section with the corresponding distribution.

If you find several sources where you can download files, choose the one with more participants. There you will provide yourself with higher speed.

The number of participants can be monitored for an already active distribution. To do this, open the appropriate tab in your torrent client. For the BitTorrent program, this is the “Information” tab.

( 9 ratings, average: 4.33 out of 5)

uTorrent client settings

After downloading and installing the program, you need to configure it correctly.

General Tab:

In this window you can set the desired client language. For distributors, it is recommended to check the box to launch the torrent along with Windows. If you do not want to install the latest versions of the client, then you need to uncheck the “Auto-install updates” and “Update to beta versions” boxes. It is better to leave the remaining settings as in the screenshot.

Interface tab:

In this window, the first thing you need to do is select actions when you double click the mouse. The remaining values can be changed as desired or left as in the picture. They do not greatly affect the operation of the program.

Folders tab:

In the window that opens, you can choose where downloaded and fully downloaded files, as well as torrent files, will be sent.

If you do not check the boxes, the selection will occur when the download starts.

Connection tab:

This window will help you configure the proxy server and ports for the client. Should only be used by advanced users. For the rest, it is advisable to leave everything as standard.

Speed tab:

In this window you can set the upload speed and download speed of various files. You can also limit the number of connections and add upload slots. It is recommended to set values only in cases where traffic is limited. In other cases, it is better to leave everything as standard.

BitTorrent tab:

These are settings for advanced users. It is better for ordinary users to leave everything as in the screenshot.

“Traffic Limit” tab:

On this tab, you can limit the amount of downloaded and distributed content for a certain period, and you can also see how much was given and downloaded over the last month.

Sequence tab:

This window limits the number of simultaneous downloads and uploads.

What is a torrent

Torrent or BitTorrent is a program for transferring files between users. Despite its impressive functionality, it is characterized by its minimal size and high speed. The protocol itself finds a file with a higher download speed, and in the event of any technical failure, it is able to automatically select a new source. The “file sharing service” came into the hands of Internet users in 2005, as soon as the first version 1.1 beta became available to them.

The program can:

set speed limits for tasks;
limit download and upload speeds;
set specific restrictions based on time;
direct file cache to hard drive;
support DHT;
has a “supersid” function;
automates downloading torrents from RSS;
connect to the tracker using HTTPS;
supports all versions of Windows;
includes up to 66 languages, not counting Russian;
supports proxy servers;
interface customization is possible;
has an anonymous tracker (acting as a retracker);
displays the contents of magnet links.

The program has a “Rating” column, where the user assigns from 1 to 5 stars to each torrent. You can view the overall rating of all users in the column with the corresponding name or at the bottom of the program window. It contains user comments, and you can also leave your own.

How is the rating calculated?

Usually they simply divide the number of megabytes sent by the number received, but some trackers can slightly modify the formula. For example, you downloaded 10 GB and gave away 1 GB, then your rating will be 1024: 10 x 1024 = 0.1, and this is the minimum rating in our case, now you will have to distribute previously downloaded files or, if you have time remove them, you will have to create your own distribution. Although most closed trackers are ready to increase your rating for a certain amount, or rather, “increase” a certain number of gigabytes given.

In the transfer settings you can see how much data you downloaded and how much you transferred. We advise you to delete the distribution only when necessary and when you distributed more than you downloaded, even if it is an open tracker.

Why are closed torrent trackers, despite restrictions, so popular?

Everything is simple here, you can download from them at a much higher speed than from open ones, and it’s easier to get into than a private tracker. But the way they achieve high speed is not so simple. The whole point is that they keep statistics for each user, what he downloaded, how many gigabytes, how many he distributed, etc. Why? If a user only downloads and does not distribute anything, he is prohibited from downloading due to a low rating. Therefore, everyone tries to give away as much as possible, and if the maximum number of people distributes, then the speed will be maximum, it’s simple.

Lychee is another important concept

This term refers to clients who do not have a complete version of the required data, but only a separate part of it.

For example, if we are talking about a film, then the user may not have its full running time, but only the first 20 minutes.

The other dealer, in turn, will have, for example, the rest, but will not have those very first 20 minutes. So, together they may well begin to distribute.

Simply the downloader will first download the data from one lich, then from another.

It’s interesting that you can start giving away an underutilized movie, game, and so on. That's when they become liches. And if he himself completely downloads the information, he will become a full-fledged seed. In practice, there are quite often cases when a person never downloads the information and remains a lich for the rest of his life. But for some it's even better.

Quite often in the statistics of a particular torrent you can see the number of seeders. An example is shown in Figure 5.

Rice. 5. Statistics of donors on the site

Now you know everything about the two concepts in question and could even understand the third. To complete the picture, it’s worth looking at how all this relates to download speed, the main characteristic that interests users.

Peer search process

You already know what peers are in a torrent. But in this case we mean all users who can distribute fragments of the file. So, what are peers? In a torrent, this is everyone who engages in “piracy,” be it downloading or distributing, or doing both, but at the same time they can be divided into two or three groups, which we discussed above.

Now let's talk about finding them. So what is “peer discovery”? The message “search for peers” in a torrent client is often seen by users of closed tracker communities. In the event that they have exceeded the limit or their rating has fallen below the minimum. This message also pops up if no one is giving away at the moment (this often happens on open trackers, since distributions are created by their owners and physically they cannot distribute everything at once, so over time some distributions are abandoned, followed by unscrupulous users ). If everything is fine and the distribution is working, then the search for peers lasts no more than a minute, after which a connection to them occurs.

How a torrent works

The operation of torrents is carried out through special server sites, also known as “Trackers”, and special programs that work with torrent files.

Today, the Internet clearly has no shortage of trackers. The choice is quite large; from multidisciplinary to narrowly focused only on films or programs, music or games. Here https://toptracker.ru and here https://btlist.info/russian you can get acquainted with the list of the best bittorrent trackers in Russia (I personally recommend NNM-Club). All trackers can be divided into:

— open (anyone can download, even without registration and traffic accounting); — closed (registration is required to download files); — private and semi-private (registration by invitation, or up to a certain limit of people).

Downloading from the tracker occurs using a “torrent file”, which contains general information about the file, its checksum and the tracker url itself.

Now it’s the turn of the program that creates these torrent files and allows them to be shared (downloaded or distributed). The most popular are:

— µTorrent (https://www.utorrent.com/); — BitComet (https://www.bitcomet.com/).