Seedbox: Difference between revisions

A '''seedbox''' is a remote server hosted in a high-bandwidth dataremote center[[Server used(computing)|server]] for the safe [[upload]]ing and [[download]]ing of [[digital file]]s from a [[Peer-to-peer|P2P network]].<ref Thesename="Butler2018">{{cite bandwidthsweb range|last1=Butler from|first1=Sydney 100Mbit/s|title=Torrenting? You Need to 10GbitGet a Seedbox Right Now! |url=https:/s/www.technadu.com/what-is-a-seedbox-and-why-you-need-one/15436/ After|website=TechNadu the|accessdate=27 September 2019 |date=10 January 2018 |archive-date=12 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210312194826/https://www.technadu.com/what-is-a-seedbox-and-why-you-need-one/15436/ has|url-status=live acquired}}</ref><ref name="Kishore2018">{{cite web |last1=Kishore |first1=Aseem |title=Use a fileSeedbox fromand WinSCP for Fast, Private Torrents |url=https://helpdeskgeek.com/how-to/use-a-seedbox-and-winscp-for-fast-private-torrents/ [[Peer|website=Help Desk Geek |accessdate=27 September 2019 |date=7 November 2018 |archive-date=30 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201130020206/https://helpdeskgeek.com/how-to/use-peera-seedbox-and-winscp-for-fast-private-torrents/ |P2Purl-status=live network}}</ref> The bandwidth ranges generally from 100 [[Mbit/s]] to 20 [[Gbit/s]]. After the seedbox has acquired the files, personspeople with access to the seedbox can download the file to their personal computers anonymously.<ref>{{cite web|title=What is a Seedbox?|url=http://seedboxgui.de/guides/what-is-a-seedbox/|publisher=Seedbox Guide|accessdate=September 10, September 2015|archive-date=17 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417030735/https://seedboxgui.de/guides/what-is-a-seedbox/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Seedboxes generally make use of the [[BitTorrent (protocol)|BitTorrent protocol]] for uploading and downloading files, although they have also been used on the [[eDonkey2000]] network. Seedboxes are usually connected to a high-speed network, often with a [[throughput]] of 100&nbsp;[[Megabit|Mbit/s]] or even 1&nbsp;[[Gigabit|Gbit]]/s. Some providers are testing and offering 10&nbsp;Gbit/s shared servers, while others are developing other systems that will allow users to scale their needs on the fly. FilesOnce arethe downloadedseedbox fromhas thea torrentfull sitecopy andof itsthe usersfiles, and from there they can be downloaded at high speeds to a user's personal computer via the [[Hypertext Transfer Protocol|HTTP]], [[File Transfer Protocol|FTP]], [[SSH file transfer protocol|SFTP]], or [[rsync]] protocols. This allows for anonymity and, usually, removes the need to worry about [[Glossary of BitTorrent terms#Share ratio|share ratio]]. More expensive seedboxes may support [[Virtual Network Computing|VNC]] or [[Remote Desktop Protocol]], allowing many popular clients to be run remotely.{{citation needed|date=January 2024}} Other seedboxes are special-purpose and run a variety of torrent-specific software including web interfaces of popular clients like [[Transmission (BitTorrent client)|Transmission]], [[rTorrent]], [[Deluge (software)|Deluge]], and [[μTorrent]], as well as the [[TorrentFlux]] web interface clients. Mobile interface support is also offered by clients such as [[Transmission (BitTorrent client)|Transmission]].

Seedboxes on high-speed networks are typically able to download large files within minutesvery quickly, provided that the [[Glossary of BitTorrent terms#Swarm|swarm]] can actually handle such a high upload bandwidth. SeedboxesFor generallyexample, havea downloadseedbox andwith uploada speedstransfer rate of 100300&nbsp;Mbit/s. Thiscan meansfinish thatdownloading a 1&nbsp;[[Gigabyte|GB]] file can finish downloading in under twohalf a minutesminute. That same 1&nbsp;GB file can be uploaded to other users in the same amount of time, creating a 1:1 upload:downloadshare ratio for that individual file. Seedboxes'The ability to transfer files so quickly makes them very attractive to the [[File sharing|P2P]] and BitTorrent communities. Because of the mentioned high speeds, seedboxes tend to be popular when using private [[torrent trackerstracker]]s, where maintaining ana upload/downloadshare ratio above 1 can be very important.<ref name="TF2108">{{cite web |last1=Andy |title=Torrent Seedbox Veterans Bow Out of Changing Market |url=https://torrentfreak.com/torrent-seedbox-veterans-bow-out-of-changing-market-180304/ |website=TorrentFreak |language=en |date=4 March 2018 |access-date=27 September 2019 |archive-date=27 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190927100441/https://torrentfreak.com/torrent-seedbox-veterans-bow-out-of-changing-market-180304/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Seedboxes are also used to circumvent [[bandwidth throttling]] by [[Internet service provider]]s or to evade laws such as the [[HADOPI law]] in France.<ref>{{citation |url=http://www.seedboxlist.com/seedboxnews/6910-10-reasons-why-you-need-a-seedbox.html |title=Advantages on owning a Seedbox |date=2012-03-14 March 2012 |publisher=SeedBoxList |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150324074648/http://www.seedboxlist.com/seedboxnews/6910-10-reasons-why-you-need-a-seedbox.html |archive-date=2015-03-24 March 2015 |access-date=2017-04-24 |deadurl=yesApril 2017 |dfurl-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.seedboxcenter.com/2013/08/13/choosing-the-best-seedbox/ |title=What to look for when choosing a seedbox |date=13 August 2013 |publisher=SeedBoxCenter |access-08date=4 February 2014 |archive-date=16 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200116122659/https://www.seedboxcenter.com/2013/08/13/choosing-the-best-seedbox/ |publisherurl-status=SeedBoxCenterlive }}</ref>