Meet the gang: Wayne, Tracy, Maxine and Leslie. They all love the Internet and use it to (legally) download all types of files, particularly movies.

…Wayne’s a bit bored and really feels like watching a movie as soon as possible. This short video explains how BitTorrent can make it happen. It also touches on BitTorrent etiquette, to help you avoid any potential embarrassment and achieve the best possible download results (please don’t be a leech).

If, for some crazy reason, you don’t feel like watching the whole video, here’s what basically happens (WARNING: spoiler below): - Wayne (the client) feels like watching a movie.

• He sends a file request using BitTorrent software on his computer via the Internet to a Tracker

• The Tracker accepts the file request and then finds some other computers (peers) that have the file and are willing to share it.

• There always needs to be one computer with the whole file on it, but other computers can be downloading and uploading a torrent of bits in any order.

• Once the Tracker has linked up all these computers the file sharing begins in earnest, and it really is the more the merrier!

• So (deep breath): Maxine (who has 100% of the file) shares an F with Wayne, then Leslie shares an I, then Wayne sends an F back, then Tracy shares an E and Wayne shares an I with Tracy and an E with Leslie, then Maxine shares an L with Wayne (which means Wayne’s FILE is complete), finally he shares an L with Leslie.

Did you get all that? No? Well, that’s why we made a video…

For those that are interested, Howstuffworks has a much fuller description of how BitTorrent works

Music: Radio Martini - Kevin MacLeod