File: bittorrent.txt
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== The Tracker ==	== The Tracker ==
The .torrent files contain the location of a /tracker/, which is a	The .torrent files contain the location of a *tracker*, which is a
brokering server that connects users with other users who have pieces of files that can be swapped. It deals entirely in sha1 hashes, and thus has no concept of "filenames". The contents of the files never	brokering server that connects users with other users who have pieces of files that can be swapped. It deals entirely in sha1 hashes, and thus has no concept of "filenames". The contents of the files never
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The key is that users grab pieces from *each other*. This means that to put a file up available for download, you actually start a	The key is that users grab pieces from *each other*. This means that to put a file up available for download, you actually start a
/downloader/ process, but with the file already completely in place!	*downloader* process, but with the file already completely in place!
This can be confusing when you are used to HTTP and FTP servers, but realize that once you have completed a download, the tracker will know	This can be confusing when you are used to HTTP and FTP servers, but realize that once you have completed a download, the tracker will know
that you have /all/ pieces of the file available for others to grab.	that you have *all* pieces of the file available for others to grab.
This is why often you'll see torrent sites admonishing users to keep their clients open after downloads are complete. The more people do	This is why often you'll see torrent sites admonishing users to keep their clients open after downloads are complete. The more people do