BitTorrentpalvelimet

BitTorrentpalvelimet, often referred to as trackers, are integral components of the BitTorrent peer-to-peer file-sharing protocol. Unlike traditional client-server models where a central server distributes files, BitTorrent relies on a decentralized network. Trackers act as intermediaries, facilitating communication between users who want to download a specific file (leeches) and those who are already sharing it (seeds).

When a user initiates a download of a .torrent file, their BitTorrent client contacts a tracker specified within that file. The tracker maintains a list of IP addresses of all users currently sharing or downloading that particular file. It then provides this list to the client, enabling it to connect directly to other peers. This direct peer-to-peer connection is what allows for distributed downloading, where data is fetched from multiple sources simultaneously, often leading to faster download speeds.

Trackers themselves do not host or distribute the actual file content. Their primary function is coordination and information dissemination. They periodically receive updates from peers about their status (uploading/downloading) and announce new peers to others. Without trackers, or with malfunctioning trackers, it becomes significantly harder for peers to discover each other, hindering the efficiency of the BitTorrent network. While some trackers are public and accessible to anyone, others can be private, requiring registration and authentication.