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Caching Torrent files in DNS

bodin writes "This is a proof of concept version of BitTorrent where the torrent files are transported over DNS. This will of course bog down BIND servers all over the planet. Everyone should be thankful that the files are not sent over DNS."

7 of 283 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Idiot by hattmoward · · Score: 5, Informative

    He's just talking about the .torrent file, which points to a torrent tracker, not the torrent data itself; and DNS works over TCP also.

  2. -1, Wrong by Wesley+Felter · · Score: 5, Informative

    The tracker does not allocate bandwidth, it just introduces peers to each other.

  3. Re:Not THAT small. by Zocalo · · Score: 5, Informative
    Actually, DNS is designed to handle considerably more than just the few bytes of data that would typically be required for an A or PTR record. One reason for DNS supporting TCP was to enable queries of more than 64kB, which are quite often seen on zone transfers, and should be able to cope with the majority of .torrent files.

    Plus, I don't see how this is going to put the huge strain on the DNS infrastructure that is implied, apart from the server hosting the torrent's TXT record anyway. Assuming no cached DNS information, I need to perform exactly the same number of DNS queries to resolve foo.domain.com to get a TXT record as I do get pull a tracker file from it. Judging by some of the posts here already some seem to think that the root DNS servers are going to have to handle terabytes of movies files or something, and that just isn't that case.

    --
    UNIX? They're not even circumcised! Savages!
  4. Re:"It would be bad..." by attobyte · · Score: 4, Informative

    If you read it you have to add a zone so it is not forcing anyone to do anything.

    --
    I didn't use the preview button, so get over it!!!!

    Mike

  5. Re:Not THAT small. by CowboyMeal · · Score: 5, Informative

    Not only that, but DNS was designed to handle a lot of tiny requests, and a few huge requests. For the many many tiny requests, it uses UDP, and doesnt have to go through the overhead of a full-blown TCP connection. This is what makes it so scalable. If it has to send back more than 512 bytes (for a zone transfer or torrent file), it sets up a TCP connection, but in the case of a zone transfer, it doesnt have to do this very often.

    For a typical name query, only two UDP segments are involved, one for the request and one for the response. If you were to request a torrent file, you would need the first three TCP handshaking segments, one to send the request, and then 1 or 2( depending on the machine setup) to send back the torrent file.

    Normal DNS query: 2 segments
    Torrent file DNS query: 5 or 6 segments

    So that takes 2.5-3 times more processing time per request on the DNS server, and that doesnt even take into account the TCP session state.

    --
    Your credit card information wants to be free.
  6. torrent files search application by polyp2000 · · Score: 4, Informative


    I discovered this the other day,
    http://www.torrentsearch.org/
    basically its a p2p program that downloads the whole database of .torrent files from mirrors.
    You can then search for torrents through the gui. You can then download the .torrent file to hard disk from whence it can be opened with your bit torrent client. Currently there are about 3000 torrents on the database. So maybe you wont need to ditch voracity or suprnova yet. Its definitely a useful addition to the bittorrent arsenal. The current download is a win32 app, but I have found it works fine with crossover wine. Would be nice if it were ported to linux ( I dont think it would be that difficult its a relatively simple app!) It would be nice if everyone used the same system for hosting trackers and torrent files.

    nick ...

    --
    Electronic Music Made Using Linux http://soundcloud.com/polyp
  7. Is that EULA for real?! "Please Jack My Computer" by Dr.+Ion · · Score: 4, Informative

    Sounds like a neat program. Unfortunately, it sounds like a festering mound of virus that would singlehandedly OWN any machine it touches and any unfortunate user too impatient or stupid not to click "AGREE: Totally Hose My Machine". I'm quoting the EULA here, not making this stuff up. Gator's spyware is green with envy:


    By accepting this agreement, I certify the following:

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    6) I further understand that an accessory tool bar will be added to my web browser which will remain visible as long as the software is installed and agree that I wish to use your search engine for my
    web browsers auto search option and default error age.

    7) To insure you always have the latest version and for your convenience this software will automatically update itself from time to
    time once installed in accordance with this EULA and Privacy Policy.

    8) If you decide to change your homepage or search page at a later date this information ?the url? will be sent back to our servers and a pass-through toolbar will be installed at the bottom of your web
    browser. This toolbar will remain active as long as this software is installed on your system.

    9) I understand that, by accepting these terms and conditions, bookmarks will be added to my system, which may be removed manually or via un-installation of the software.

    10) In order for us to keep this software free, from time to time promotional offers from our sponsors will be displayed to you.

    11) To prevent your browser from becoming cluttered when our toolbar is installed, any other toolbars you currently have visible will
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    And it does go on.