Please help me setup P2P on my PC

[zoombini]

Hello all,

I have a nice shiny new fast PC with oodles of space on it.
I am using WinXP Pro for an OS.
I am on Plus Net for an ISP with a 1mb connection.

For virus & spy-ware protection I am running AVG7 free version\Spybot S&D/teatimer & have spywareblaster installed too.

My modem/router is a Belkin ADSL Modem with Wireless G router model 7632-4UK.
Firmware Version AR.0.01.08UK (Oct 27 2004 01:03:29)

It works fine normally, browsing is fine, Xbox Live works fine.

Until I try to run a P2P program.

They will just not connect & download anything.
Also & this is the worst problem, when I start a P2P program, ALL web browsing becomes impossible, I cannot even get to the router page (192.168.2.2).

Perhaps trying some port forwarding would help with the P2P programs?
Well, the Belkin routers do not have port forwarding called "port forwarding".
Instead they appear to have "Application Gateways" so I assume that this is the same thing.

So for instance, for Azureus I have put in
Trigger port 6881 Trigger TCP, Public Port 6881 trigger TCP & enabled.
I also have 6881 put in the virtual server section.

But it makes no difference, Azureus still does not connect.
The yellow smiley face suggests it is a NAT problem.
But all I can do is turn the firewall on or off. I have no wish to turn the firewall off, but when I do it still has no effect ?

Help, suggestions on what to do would be most welcome.
Thank you,
Zoombini.

[bmxbandit]

perhaps windows firewall is doing something? kill it if you've got a better one installed...

[zoombini]

Windows firewall is already Off.
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AHA!

Methinks I got it.
The motherboard (Asus K8N) also has an Nvidia firewall too.
I just turned that off & P2p has started downloading & can can access http.


Still, any tips for setting the router etc for this most welcome.

Zoombini

[geminian68]

take a look at this, and go to this site for information on port forwarding, for both firewall's and routers. here

it is a common practice for ISPs to throttle those ports (that is, limit the bandwidth, hence the speed).

The blocked ports list include, but is not neccessarily limited to, the following:

Direct Connect

411 - 413

Kazaa

1214

eDonkey

4662

Gnutella

6346 - 6347

BitTorrent

6881 - 6889

In order to use use the tracker you must configure your client to use any port range that does not contain those ports (a range within the region 49152 through 65535 is preferable, cf. IANA). Notice that some clients, like Azureus 2.0.7.0 or higher, use a single port for all torrents, while most others use one port per open torrent. The size of the range you choose should take this into account (typically less than 10 ports wide. There is no benefit whatsoever in choosing a wide range, and there are possible security implications).

These ports are used for connections between peers, not client to tracker. Therefore this change will not interfere with your ability to use other trackers (in fact it should increase your speed with torrents from any tracker, not just ours). Your client will also still be able to connect to peers that are using the standard ports. If your client does not allow custom ports to be used, you will have to switch to one that does.

Do not ask us, or in the forums, which ports you should choose. The more random the choice is the harder it will be for ISPs to catch on to us and start limiting speeds on the ports we use. If we simply define another range ISPs will start throttling that range also.

Finally, remember to forward the chosen ports in your router and/or open them in your firewall, should you have them.

gem

[Raistlin]

You're better off avoiding port 6881 if you can, that's the common port and so is usually the one that gets throttled by the ISPs. Better to use something in the late 49k (49056 for example).

You need to set this in your router and also within Az.

Limit your upload speed as well. I'm on 2Mb BB and my upload is set to 20k.

If you let me know what your upload speed is I'll give you pointers for the rest of the Az settings (or, better still, tell you how you can find them yourself ).

[zoombini]

er... my upload speed is 256k...

Now the dumb users answer is over..
Az has it set at 110kb/s, so have just changed it to 20.
(seems very little).

As for the port, suppose I set my listening port to 49056 , how would the others know that I use that port to connect to it? bit lost there.

It has worked, I just got the star wars revelations 250mb file, but trying for the 2 off DVD sized ones as well, slow but coming down.

No-one is uploading from me yet (i fink?)
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p.s. when AZ starts downloading, the filesize on in explorer looks like the whole thing yet it's not? how come?

[Raistlin]

Ok, you need to limit your upload speed. If you don't it will swamp your connection and then you won't get anything.

Yep, set the listening port to that (or whatever you fancy) and make sure you have that port forwarded through your router/firewalls etc. You only need to specify one port for Az.

Az will announce it's presensc and the port it is using and then listen for responses on that port, let it worry about how - I don't think we really need to know

Not sure about the filesize thing, I wouldn't worry about it. I think that each torrent includes information about the size that the downloaded file should be when it is complete. This information is probably available to windows somehow.

Ok, as for other settings.....

In Tools -> Options -> Transfer, set the first five items to: 25 | 0 | 4 | 102 | 256

In Tools -> Options -> Queue, set the first two items to: 2 | 3

According to Azureus that should be the best setup for your connection

You can test that you have your ports open correctly by stopping the torrents, closing and then reopening Az. Now go to Tools > Configuration Wizard.

Follow the wizard through until you come to the port test. If you test it and it comes back as OK then all is well and your ports are forwarded.

When you start the torrents it might take some time before you get green smileys, but you shoud get them eventually.

Your download speed is only as good as the upload speeds of the people you are connected to.

Limit the number of torrents that are going at any one time, doing this will ensure that your whole connection speed (up and down) is available to the torrent that you are downloading. You should get a better response and quicker downloads with this.

Torrents can be pretty hit and miss though, some come down lightening fast, some come down in dribs and drabs, some never come down at all.

Have a try with what I've suggested below and then post back if you get any more problems.

One more thing, go to Tools > Options > Plugins > IRC

Put a nickname in there and then hit save (bottom left).

Now (on the main toolbar) click Plugins > IRC, that takes you to the Az IRC chat channel, there's loads of knowledgeable people in there that can answer your questions a lot better than I can.

Oh, and I'm in there occasionally as well.

Have fun
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Zoombini:

I gotta go now, any prob's just post back - sure somebody can help.

Alternatively go across to the Az chat channel as described above and introduce yourself, there'll be someone there that can offer advice for sure.

[Neil]

Originally Posted by zoombini

Well, the Belkin routers do not have port forwarding called "port forwarding".
Instead they appear to have "Application Gateways" so I assume that this is the same thing.

Port forwarding is done from the 'Virtual Servers' section on a Belkin router.

[zoombini]

Thanks Raistlin, done that.

Trying the config wizard rests some so have to manually put it back.
I notice that it has the wrong IP to bind to as well.

still cant dop the port test, even stopping all torrents, quitting & restarting, says it's still in use.
Will try that again later.

leaving it downloading just the one for now.
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Aye up - it's a green faced one now too
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Oh, I don't have the IRC plugin... yet will do though.