Transferring files over the Internet using torrents

Recently I needed to copy several gigabytes of pictures and videos from a family member's computer.  My initial attempt was to run an FTP server (FileZilla) and transfer the files that way.  This failed because the Internet connection on the other end is kind of flaky.  Their DSL connection has a tendency to briefly drop-out, sometimes as often as every 5 minutes.  So I needed to find a reliable way to transfer these files, some method that is fault-tolerant of frequent connection losses.  I know I could use Dropbox, Google Drive, or some other form of online storage as an intermediary location, but I'd prefer to direct PC to PC transfer.  On the suggestion of someone else, I decided to give torrents a try.  This seemed like a great idea - below is how I got the transfer to work using torrents.

First let me say I'm by no means an expert when it comes to torrents.  This was my first real exposure to torrents, so much of the technology and terms is new to me.  But I do know enough about the torrent design to know that it should handle a flaky connection.

The first thing you need is a torrent client and server.  Far and away the most popular and used program for Windows is uTorrent (free).  I started to use this program and it would have worked, but this program has some really annoying ads, nagware, whatever you want to call it.  I then discovered qBitTorrent (also free) which in my opinion is a much better program.  It does pretty much everything of uTorrent but without the nags, and it's open-source which is nice.

After you start qBitTorrent, click Tools then Options.  On the "Behavior" page enable "Inhibit system sleep" at the bottom.  You don't want your computer going to sleep during the transfer.

On the "Connection" page take note of the port being used.  You may need to open holes in your firewall later on.  Also, UPnP is very convenient if your home router supports it.

On the "Speed" page uncheck the "Upload" field at the top.  We don't want to limit the transfer speed, we want it to go as fast as possible.

And finally, on the "Advanced" page scroll down and enable the embedded tracker.  Also take note of the tracker port.

You're now ready to create the torrent on the computer with the files to send.  Click on Tools then Torrent Creator.  At the top enter the path to the file or folder containing the files to be sent.  Under "Tracker URLs" you need to manually type the URL used to identify the new torrent.  The form is "http://<public_ip>:<port>/announce"  Public IP is your IP address on the Internet, which is likely different than the IP address of your computer.  To get your public IP address you can Google "what's my IP"  As for port number, that's the embedded tracker port from the Advanced page in the options.  Lastly, enable "private" and "start seeding" at the bottom.  When you click "Create and Save" it will ask for a location to save the torrent file, and it will begin "hosting" the files.  You need to email or otherwise transfer this torrent file to the receiving computer.

Receiving the files is much easier.  Just start any torrent client (again, I recommend qBitTorrent) and open the torrent file created by the sending machine.  If you did everything correctly it will begin to download the files.

If the torrent doesn't connect, then chances are the firewall(s) on the sending side are blocking things.  There are likely two firewalls on the sender-side, the Windows firewall and the router.  You need to open up exceptions in both, for both the connection port (connection page of the options) and tracker port (advanced page).  If your router doesn't support UPnP then you need to setup port forwarding for these two ports.

Farewell Shuttle Endeavour

Today was the last flight of the Space Shuttle Endeavour.  It left this morning from Edwards AFB on a flying tour of California before landing at LAX, where it will be rolled to it's new home at the California Science Center.

The shuttle first flew by Sacramento, then onto San Francisco for shots in front of the Golden Gate Bridge.  After that it flew down the coast, past Vandenberg AFB, over some LA landmarks, and onto LAX.  As it flew down the coast it passed our house and I was able to snap a few pictures.  Unfortunately the morning fog had just burned off, so there was still some foggy haze in the air.  As a result the pictures aren't the best, but you can clearly see the shuttle, the 747 carrier, and the F15 escort.

This isn't the first time I've seen the shuttle flying overhead, although this is the first time I've seen it on top of the 747 carrier.  Growing up I lived near Edwards AFB which is where the shuttle landed for the first decade or so of it's career.  So I got to see the shuttle fly overhead on final approach to Edwards many times.  But seeing it on top of the 747 slowly (relatively speaking) flying down the coast was a nice treat.

Windows 8 - is it Vista all over again?

Microsoft will start selling Windows at the end of October.  But in the meantime, as a Microsoft partner and Windows developer I have access to the final version of Windows 8.  So have installed and used Windows 8 on several machines over the past week.

I'm making my prediction right now, I think most computer users are going to hate Windows 8.  It is so radically different that I think most computer users will find it difficult and frustrating to use, and therefore won't upgrade.  When Vista came it there was severe backlash and users and corporations refused to upgraded choosing to stay with Windows XP instead.  I think the same thing will happen here, most people will choose to stay with Windows 7.

The main problem is the new Metro interface and the loss of the start menu on the desktop.  Anyone who has used a Windows computer in the last 15 years will find Windows 8 difficult to use.  Case in point, when I first used Windows 8 it literally took me 5 minutes to figure out how to turn off the computer.  I shouldn't have to search for 5 minutes to find the power button.  That's a big problem.

The second biggest problem, which is related to the Metro interface, is Microsoft needs to realize who users are.  I don't know the percentages, but the vast majority of Windows computers have a keyboard and mouse.  Probably much less than 1% of Windows computers are on tablets with touchscreens.  Yet Metro is designed for and geared around touchscreen.  So if you're using a keyboard and mouse prepare to be frustrated with Windows 8.

If you must use Windows 8, then do yourself a HUGE favor and download and install Classic Shell.  This is a free open-source program that restores the start menu to Windows 8.  This won't make Windows 8 the perfect OS, but it will at least take some of the sting out of switching.