Area 77

What you will need:
1. A file/folder that you are planning to share.
2. A torrent downloading client. (I use Bittorrent and this post is based on that client.)
3. A tracker. (Explained below.)

OK this might sound complicated but it really is very simple. I will assume you already know what a torrent file is and also how to download it. I will also assume that on your computer, you have a folder where you have torrents you are currently downloading and that the files you are downloading are in that same folder. For now, lets call that folder “Download Files.”

Find the file or folder you want to share and copy it (it’s your choice if you want to use the original) to “Download Files.” Name it accordingly. I usually put the title and my alias so that people would know that I authored the torrent. But you can do whatever you want.

Next, you will need a tracker. A tracker is what makes the connection between downloaders (leechers) and uploaders (seeders). I don’t know all the technical detail about it but that’s basically what it is. The Beehive Tracker List has a long list of trackers to use.

Let’s fastforward to the future and pretend that you already created your torrent file and are ready to share it. You will want to submit it to various sites like TorrentSpy, BTjunkie, etc. so that other people can find and use it. Some of these search engines provide a tracker for you to use and some of them don’t. I generally use TorrentSpy for my torrents but unfortunately, they don’t provide a tracker. The next best thing I could find was The Pirate Bay.

Register an account at The Pirate Bay. Click on Upload Torrent. You will then see a form for you to fill out. At the very top of the form you will see an “Announce URL.” That is you tracker. Don’t fill out anything just yet. Copy that annouce URL and keep the browser window open for later.

Now lets go back. You just named you file/folder and are ready to create the torrent. Launch the Bittorent software. I use Mac OS X but it should generally be the same. Go to File > Generate. Drag you file or folder to the Generate window. In the “Tracker URL” field, paste the announce URL that you had copied earlier. Keep the KiB pieces at the default setting (I don’t really know what it’s for). Click Generate and let it save to “Download Files.”

After it’s done, you will have a torrent file and the file/folder with the exact same name. Do not rename eith file. If you decide you want to change the name, you will need to generate a new torrent file. Now double click on the torrent file you generated. This allows you to “seed” that file in Bittorrent or any other torrent downloading client you choose. You must seed you file for a loooooong time because so far, you are the only one that has it! So don’t rename or delete the torrent file or the actual file or folder you are sharing.

Now you are ready to share your torrent file. Since you’re using their tracker, it’s only fair to upload the torrent to The Pirate Bay. Go back to the upload form and fill out what you need to fill out in the form. I usually keep the torrent title the same. Since I mostly use TorrentSpy, I submit my torrents to them as well.

That’s it! Now people can download your torrent. Remember to not rename anything and to keep seeding until you decide it has become popular enough.

It’s pretty simple. I think I actually talked too much. Please let me know if you need any more clarification.

This entry was posted on Friday, February 2nd, 2007 at 1:26 am and is filed under How To. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.