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Setup uTorrent

If you choose to install uTorrent, you can download it here. Double click the file to run a quick installtion procedure. The first time you run uTorrent, it will as a few questions about your connection and the ports you want to use. Select the speed closest to your Internet connection, and remember the port number listed on the bottom left. That is the port we will use to configure your router and firewall. You can pick any port you want or choose a random one.

If you already have uTorrent installed, you can click on Options->Preferences and then "Connection" on the left. The port you are using will be listed at the top.

Set Up BitTornado

BitTornado is easy to configure. After its installed, start downloading a torrent. That will open up the BitTornado download window. In this window, you can set the upload and download rates for BitTornado. You should set your upload to about 2/3 of the maximum upload speed your internet service provider gives you. That should provide maximum efficency. If you aren't sure what the speed of your connection is, just use the automatic setting.

In the top right corner of the download box, there is a link that says “Prefs.” Click on that to change the settings for BitTornado. Most of the defaults should be just fine. The one thing we want to take a look at is the “ Port Range” in the upper right hand corner. By default, BitTorrent uses 6881-6889. If yours isn’t set to that, you can either change it to that or just make a note of what it's currently set to. We will need those numbers to configure your firewall and router.

Behind a firewall

If you are behind a firewall, you will need to open a port in your firewall to allow incoming connections for BitTorrent peers.

Windows XP Firewall

If you are using the Windows XP firewall, this is fairly simple. Open up your Control Panel (usually available from the Start Menu or My Computer.) With the Control Panel in Classic View, double click on “Network Connections.” Find the icon for the connection that you want to use BitTorrent on (probably Local Area Connection.) If there is more than one of them, use the one that says “Connected” under it. Right click on this icon and choose “Properties.”

Next, go to the Advanced tab. This part will look different if you are running Service Pack 1 than if you are running Service Pack 2. You may want to upgrade to Service Pack 2 because it provides a whole heap-load of security fixes.

Service Pack 1

In Service Pack 1, there will be a check box next to “Protect my computer…” If it isn’t checked, you aren’t using the Windows firewall and you don’t need to configure it. If you want to use it (and you should,) put a check in the box. Next, click on the settings button at the bottom. In the Advanced Settings window, on the Services tab, click on the Add… button. Add the following information:

• Description of service: BitTorrent 1
• Name or IP address: localhost
• External Port : 6881
• Internal Port: 6881
• (if you have a port range different than the default, replace the numbers above with the first port in your range.)
• Select TCP
• Click on OK

Repeat the process for each of the ports in your port range changing the description to BitTorrent 2, etc.

Service Pack 2

In Service Pack 2, the firewall attempts to configure itself. The first time you run BitTorrent, a window will pop up asking you if you want to give BitTorrent access to the internet. Just allow it full access and you should be all set.

To configure it manually, look for the settings button next to “Protect my computer…” where the checkbox was in Service Pack 1. Click on the settings button and go to the "Exceptions" tab. Click on the Add Program… button. Find BitTornado and click on it, then click on OK. If, for any reason, you can’t find BitTornado in there, just cancel this window. You can click on the Add Port… button and follow the directions above for Service Pack 1.

Your Windows Firewall is now ready to allow you to upload the file to other people. This will happen automatically the next time you download a file with BitTorrent and will speed up your downloads.

Other Firewalls

If you use a something other than the Windows XP firewall, check the program's documentation or web site to see how to open up ports. It should be a similar process. Some firewalls, like ZoneAlarm, configure themselves automatically.

Try these Google searches for information on configuring popular 3rd party firewalls:

• ZoneAlarm Configuration
• Norton Firewall Configuration
• McAfee Firewall Configuration

Read on for what to do if you are also behind a router

Next =>[Magoo's Guide to BitTorrent - Page 4, Configuring your router for BitTorrent]

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