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How Torrenting Works

The document uses a book photocopying analogy to explain how torrenting works, where multiple users (clients) share parts of a file (book) instead of one person making multiple copies. Each user can obtain different pages from others, allowing for efficient sharing and reconstruction of the entire file. The process continues as users join and leave, with the goal of having enough pieces available to complete the file quickly.

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wibaomiab273
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45 views1 page

How Torrenting Works

The document uses a book photocopying analogy to explain how torrenting works, where multiple users (clients) share parts of a file (book) instead of one person making multiple copies. Each user can obtain different pages from others, allowing for efficient sharing and reconstruction of the entire file. The process continues as users join and leave, with the goal of having enough pieces available to complete the file quickly.

Uploaded by

wibaomiab273
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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How Torrenting Works: A Book Photocopying Analogy

By CarlCheo.Com

1
Bo
ok
Can I
Nice borrow
book your
dude! book?

Can I Nice
borrow book
your dude!
book?

Imagine 30 people want to read a book (file), but only 1 person has it.

2 All 30 people have photocopiers


(downloaders), but if the 1 person
photocopied the whole book in its
entirety, 29 times, it would take a
really long time.

Also, if the 1 person stopped


letting people copy it then
everyone would just miss out.

Stop asking!
Let me
think of a
better way
to share
this book.

3 Page 5
please!
Here
you
go…
Instead, the 29 (clients) go to the 1
(seeder) and each tear out a page
and photocopy it, then give it back.
9 12 Pag Page
e
Page Page 5 12

Now everyone has at least 1 page.


15 Pag
e
Page 7

Now, they can either go back to


Page 24 Page
5
the 1 person and get another
Hey
I'm missing
I have
page, or they can go to any of
page 13, all the other people and get a copy
who got a pages!
copy? of the pages they have.

16 Page 9 Pag
e
Page 2 Page 18

4 As time goes on, some people


drop off, and some people join in,
9 12 Pag
e Page
but among this miniature
Page Page 5 12

community (swarm), hopefully,


there are enough pages to
reconstruct the whole book.

15 Pag
e
Page 7

If everyone stays available long


enough, a lot of people end up
having the whole book (new
seeders) and can speed up the
Page
24 Page
5
whole process, since there are
multiple sources for potentially
"rare" pages.
LE ECHER LE ECHER
I have an Better run
appointment away before Sometimes there are jerks who
All Pa

with my the ink ges


leave immediately after getting
eyebrow (internet quota)
specialist. runs out… the whole book (leechers).
See ya!

So torrents take this principle with a file. The file is split into a bunch of parts.
Everyone broadcasts what pieces they have and each download the pieces they need.

Based on Ben Mordecai's answer on Quora: Presented by


http://www.quora.com/How-would-one-explain-torrents-to-someone-who-doesnt-understand-anything-about-computers
CarlCheo.Com

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