From 56fd688f54d48dd4754ac02179a477bbd4501430 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: "Janus B. Kristensen" Date: Tue, 8 May 2007 08:16:30 +0000 Subject: [PATCH] A tiny bit of documentation svn path=/trunk/boinc/; revision=12608 --- html/bt/INSTALL | 22 ++++++++++++++++++++++ html/bt/README | 43 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2 files changed, 65 insertions(+) create mode 100644 html/bt/INSTALL create mode 100644 html/bt/README diff --git a/html/bt/INSTALL b/html/bt/INSTALL new file mode 100644 index 0000000000..66f5a1e7dd --- /dev/null +++ b/html/bt/INSTALL @@ -0,0 +1,22 @@ +----------------- +Setting it all up +----------------- +The .torrent cache will need to know where to look for the files that are going +to be sent to the clients. Usually this will be the project download directory. + + + +------------------ +How to enable this +------------------ +By default Bittorrent support is turned off on both server and client. You must +enable bittorrent in your server configuration files by doing this: + + + +You must also convince your users that enabling Bittorrent support on their clients +is a useful way to help the project. It is a good idea to let them know that +setting the "Maximum upload rate" under general preferences enables them to +control just how much of their outgoing bandwidth is ever used. A setting of 70% +or less of their actual bandwidth is recommended to avoid creating latency issues +on their connection. diff --git a/html/bt/README b/html/bt/README new file mode 100644 index 0000000000..aadc421541 --- /dev/null +++ b/html/bt/README @@ -0,0 +1,43 @@ +----------------------------------- +Bittorrent file distribution system +----------------------------------- +When several workunits require the same file (for instance any particularly big +application file) it is really a waste to use a central server to distribute this +file. First of all a central server requires lots of bandwidth - which may be +quite expensive. Secondly getting 10'000 requests for the same multi-megabyte +file may be too much for even the largest of servers. + +The solution is to harness the power of peer-to-peer computing in the domain of +volunteer and desktop grid computing by allowing the clients to share pieces of the +files they are downloading. + +How it works +------------ +Since noone can be trusted, "Bob" (a client) will need some way of knowing if "Eve" +(another client) sent him a valid piece of the original file. To enable him to do +so Bob has downloaded a .torrent from the project servers. The .torrent describes +the file he is downloading; it contains hash values for each piece so that he can +check whether "Eve" is trying to cheat him. + +If "Alice" also wants to download the same file as "Bob" they can each fetch a +different piece from the project servers and then share the pieces. Seen from +"Bob" and "Alice"'s perspective this potentially doubles the download rate (if you +see it from the project perspective it cuts the required network bandwidth in half). +As more people join the synergetic effect increases dramatically. + +Isn't Bittorrent illegal? +------------------------- +Bittorrent is a protocol for sharing files across the internet. As such it cannot +be illegal in itself - it is what you do with it that matters. +If you take a look at all the filesharing protocols out there Bittorrent seems to +be the one that has been taken into widespread use in the whitehat part of the +internet. Several major companies, including the movie industry, have adopted the +technology because of its unique ability to distribute load. To name a few uses: +- Bittorrent.com (Works with the movie industry, sells movies and shows) +- Blizzard Entertainment (Uses BT to distribute data patches for their World of + Warcraft game) +- EletricSheep screensaver (Uses BT to distribute computed "dreams") + +How do I enable this? +--------------------- +Have a look at the INSTALL file located in the same directory as this file. \ No newline at end of file