A torrent file is nothing more than a plain text document that
contains information used by a BitTorrent client to initiate a
connection with a swarm of users (seeds and peers). If you only
upload a torrent file to your tracker and never seed the torrent,
people will never be able to actually download the torrented
files from you. By seeding a torrent, you announce to the
tracker that you have the complete file or fileset and are
available to provide these files for download to other users
(peers).
Seeding Your Torrent
To begin seeding your torrent, you will need to open it in your
default BitTorrent client. Torrent files can be opened in
basically two different ways.
Open a Torrent File Locally
— Using this method, you would use a file explorer
such as My Computer or Windows Explorer to locate (on your
harddrive) the torrent that you created and double-click it.
It should then open in your default BitTorrent client and ask
your for a Save Location.
Open a Torrent File Remotely
— Using this method, you would click a hypertext link
to the online location of the torrent file. If your web
browser is configured properly, it should ask you
if you want to Save or Open the torrent file when you click
the link. By choosing Open, it should download the torrent
file to a temporary folder, open it in your default
BitTorrent client and prompt you for a Save Location.
If your tracker allows torrent downloads
(bnbt_allow_torrent_downloads), this can be done by
clicking the link in the Torrent Download column that appears
just after the Torrent Name column.
NOTE: Your web browser might be configured to simply open
torrent files by default, and you will never be asked if
you want to save or open the torrent.
If you were downloading the torrented files, you could
choose any save location, however, because you are seeding the
torrent, it is necessary for you to choose a specific location
(and filename).
Upon opening the torrent file, you will be prompted for a save
location. If the torrent is for a single file, you will also be
prompted for a filename.
If you are torrenting a SINGLE FILE:
— you should select that file on your hard drive
when you are prompted for a save location and filename.
If you are torrenting a SET OF FILES (FOLDER):
— you should select the folder on your hard drive
that contains the torrented files, when you are prompted
for a save location.
Your client will then begin to hash the file contents on your
hard drive (checking existing data) and will compare it to the
hash information stored in the torrent file. If everything
matches, your client should report that the torrent is complete
(Download Succeeded) and will then contact the tracker to
announce this information.
PLEASE NOTE: Some BitTorrent clients use color-coding to indicate
the status of your torrent. Please do not be concerned if your
torrent does not go green immediately. This will not happen
until someone has started downloading the torrented files from you.
This usually doesn't happen when you start seeding a torrent
initially, because no one has had a chance to get the
torrent file yet.
Some Important Guidelines
Seed your torrent for as long as possible.
Seed your torrent until it is well seeded and has at least
2 other seeds (people who have finished downloading).
Check back often to make sure that your torrent isn't left
with 0 seeds and reseed the torrent as necessary.
The number of seeds and peers will be displayed in your tracker's
table of torrents. If the tracker supports the scrape
function, the number of seeds and peers can also be retrieved
using TorrentSpy. BNBT EasyTracker is configured by default to
support the scrape function.
The procedure for reseeding your torrent is exactly the same as
the initial seeding process.
Seeding Torrents Tracked by Your Tracker
Because your tracker will be running on your home computer, it
may be necessary for you to configure your computer and your
BitTorrent client further to be able use your own tracker
for seeding and downloading torrented files on your tracker.
TEST #1: Can you visit your tracker using your Internet IP
Address?
Make sure that your tracker is running and click the button below
to open your tracker's website. This button will only work if you
the port number is specified correctly.
Did your tracker page load?
TEST #2: Is your Internet IP Address reported to the
tracker properly?
This test should only be done if you can currently answer YES
to Test #1.
Create a torrent that uses your tracker's Announce URL and
upload the torrent to the tracker.
Begin seeding the torrent.
Open your tracker and click the Torrent Name to view the
stats for your torrent.
You should be listed as a seed in the peer table near the
bottom.
If the IP Address listed, starts with 192.168, you will need
to configure your BitTorrent client to report your actual
Internet IP Address. Please refer to the Appendix for help
in making this configuration change.
If the IP Address listed is your actual Internet IP Address,
no further configuration is necessary.
