Bittorent slow speed query
 

Hi all!

I'm not sure where this question should go but here goes. I've recently tried downloading some files by bittorent (Slackware and Rock linux for playing with), I've always used straight HTTP downloads which for a distro is usually 4 or 5 hours, imagine my surprise when the torrent software gave me times of 18-19 hours! and that for Rock linux which is only 600 meg or so.

I'm running Ubuntu Gutsy 64bit, any thoughts? I'm assuming that I'm doing something wrong.

Thanks in advance

Until you configure your router to allow the ports that your bittorrent client uses through to your computer, you will see very slow speed. Open up those ports & you should be flying.

Thanks for the reply.

I was going with the client that Ubuntu defaults to but I'm now installing Azureus as it seems to be popular. How do I open the ports as you suggest?

unfortunately, there's no straight answer because it all depends on a lot of things.

1. You need to know what ports you're using. I don't know what Azureus uses. I use BitTornado which allows you to specify a port range. Whatever the app, you need to know what port(s) it uses. This setting is probably located in the preferences somewhere.

2. You need to open those ports on the firewall. This, of course, depends on what firewall you have & is way beyond the scope of a guess. Let us know the firewall & we may be able to help, otherwise, consult the manual.

3. You need to be sure you're not firewalling on the machine itself through iptables or hosts.allow/deny (or some other software firewall/virus checking thing). If you get #1 & #2 sorted and it still isn't working, make sure iptables is turned off (sudo /etc/init.d/iptables stop) and make sure /etc/hosts.allow & /etc/hosts.deny isn't blocking traffic on those ports (they probably aren't but you should check).

Ok thanks for your help, should see me through the rest of the evening, You only learn by tweaking though!

Wish me luck, I'm going in!