Starting a new torrent in Deluge for LinuxTracker
What is a torrent file?
In order for the sharing of files via the bit-torrent protocol, there needs to be a set of instructions that connect individual computers with each other through the assistance of a centralized tracker. This set of instructions is contained in the .torrent file. If you want to share a file —say a Linux ISO— the first step is to create one of these .torrent control files.
Creating a .torrent file with Deluge
- If you haven't already, get Deluge set up properly by creating directories for download/uploads and a directory to store .torrent files after they're loaded. The third directory you need is a directory to scan for new .torrents that you DL in order to start leeching. This last item is important for properly starting a new seed on LinuxTracker.org
- Place the ISO file you want to share in the DL/UL directory.
- Open Deluge and in the menu bar choose File > New Torrent. The Torrent Creator window will open. Navigate to your DL/UL directory where the ISO is stored, and choose the file.
See the next screenshot and note the steps numbered in red:
- Make certain you UNCHECK Add new torrent to queue! This is important.
- Add the correct tracker URL: http://linuxtracker.org:2710/announce
- Name the new torrent file identically to the ISO file, except for the additional ".torrent" extension. Important: do NOT save it to your Deluge scan directory. You do not want this .torrent file automatically loaded by Deluge!
- Note that you can set the chunk size as an Advanced option. For a CD-sized ISO, the default 256 is good. It makes for a slightly larger .torrent file than 512, but results in less time wasted if a bad chunk needs to be tossed out and re-downloaded as part of the bit-torrent error-checking process.
Done! Almost. . .
The resulting file with the .torrent extension will be about 50 or 60 KB, more or less depending on how many trackers are listed, the size of the ISO, and the chunk size. This is the .torrent control file you need to upload to LinuxTracker.org in order that other people can download the ISO file from you. Understand the distinction: you do not upload the CD-sized ISO file to LinuxTracker. You only upload the 50-60 KB .torrent control file.
Click upload on the Linuxtracker.org website menu bar:
You will get a new window with the following input form in the centre. Note the fields numbered in red in this graphic.
- Click browse and in the new window, navigate to the location you have saved your .torrent control file, highlight it, and click open.
- Category: in the drop-down list locate the name of the Linux Distro you're going to share.
- File name: Type in a short descriptive name. It does not have to be identical to the .iso.torrent filename. In my example, here I'm typing 64 Studio for 32 bit computers for this file: 64studio_2.0_i386.iso.torrent. The ISO file was named by the folks at 64 Studio. I named the .torrent file I created the exact same name. But here in the LinuxTracker file listing, people will understand easier if the torrent is listed as “64 Studio for 32 bit computers.”
- Here type in a short description of the release. You do not need to copy the entire Release Announcement. But you could give the URL for the Release Announcement, as well as the URL for the install instructions, distro forums or any other good info for people who want to know more.
The last step is very important:
When you finish filling in the upload form and click send, if all goes well your new torrent will be listed at the head of the list on the LinuxTracker.org front page. But it will say that there are no seeds!
Right! Because you need to take one more step. Linuxtracker assigned a unique tracker code to your .torrent control file, and that's the one everybody has to use from this point on: including you!. So click on your new torrent, and in the new torrent page, click on the Torrent link [second line down, below the Name.]
DOWNLOAD THE NEW .TORRENT CONTROL FILE and save it to your Deluge Scan directory.
Deluge will load it, and compare the instructions in the .torrent file to the ISO file in your download / upload directory. If all is well, it will run up to 100% and automatically register you as the first seed for the new torrent swarm.
Now you're done!
Internet Explorer?