How to Tweak Azureus (Java Bit Torrent Client) to Obtain the Best Download Speeds!

I. Bit Torrent
BT is a file sharing program, but it's different than limewire or bearshare; it's unique. With BT (bit torrent, which was developed in 2001 by programmer Bram Cohen) you can download many different types of files, ranging from software to games to video and audio files as well. BT uses a different system of sharing files; people who already have 100% of a given file are "seeders", people downloading it are called "leechers". The more seeders a particular torrent has, the faster it'll download. Remember this when searching torrent sites, torrents with a better seeder2peer ratio are better. You also upload (share) the file with others as you download it. This article is a how-to guide for getting the fastest download speeds in Azureus (client).

If you know what Azureus is, skip to the next section of this guide:

II. Azureus
Azureus is a Bit Torrent client. Bram Cohen developed the first bit torrent client, but it's not the only one; and many people find Azureus to be the best (it's the only the only program you need to start downloading files). You download a .torrent file from a website (I don't need to name specific ones here, just search "torrent" on google, try a few different torrent search engines until you find one that you like); then you open the .torrent file with your client (Azureus in this case). A download will begin; a download which operates using the protocol described above.

If you already have Azureus installed on your computer, skip the following step of the guide:

III. Installing Azureus
Visit http://azureus.sourceforge.net/ to download the bit torrent client (NOTE: you need the Java Runtime installed on your machine, this is explained on the http://azureus.sourceforge.net/ page). The installation is just like any other windows program. If you're running a firewall make sure to give Azureus to access all Internet and trusted zones etc. During setup, select "Advanced" as you're user proficiency at the "configuration wizard" screen (you should see this when you install/startup Azureus for the first time). Select this method because some of the tweaks we're going to make for faster download speeds require complete access to the client's configuration options.

If you're reading this guide and you skipped the first three steps of it, and already had Azureus installed, set your user proficiency to "Advanced" in the configuration wizard. This can be accessed any time after Azureus install by going to Tools ---> Configuration Wizard...

IV. Windows XP users:
First we have to increase the maximum number of connections allowed by windows. To do this, download this patch. Extract the .exe to your desktop and run it, a DOS prompt will open up. Press "Y" then "enter" to change the number to 50 maximum connections, instead of 10. Some users will find that their Max connections are already set at 50 or higher, and if this is the case for you can delete the patch and skip this step.

V. Tweaking the Azureus Client
OK, you've got your client installed, you've set your user proficiency to "Advanced", and you've increased the number of connections allowed (if necessary). Now you're ready to tweak your client to get the best download speeds. When you run Azureus it'll (with default settings) automatically check for updates, you should update to the latest version. This guide was done on version 2.5.0.4.

Click Tools ---> options...

Expand the menu for the "connection" settings and select "Advanced Network Settings"

Change the Max simultaneous outbound connection attempts to 50

Now expand the menu for "tracker", and select "Server"

Where it says "Tracker client poll interval (secs)" change the "Increase by" box to 30 and the "Every 'n' clients" box to 60.

Now go to the "Transfer" menu, you don't have to expand it just highlight it.

Personally, for "Max global upload speed" and "Max global download speed" I set mine to unlimited, or 0 (with 6 meg cable Internet).

Depending on your Internet speed, you might want to set a limit. If I had DSL I would do a 40 kb/s upload rate max and an 80 kb/s download rate max.

Make "max connections per torrent default" unlimited and make "max connections globally" about 300 (again this is for my 6 meg cable). OK, click save at the bottom of the options tab, and you can close the options tab.

Also, click Tools ---> NAT / Firewall Test...

Type in a port "52143" for example and test it...after about two seconds it should say "OK!". If it does not say OK, view this

VI. You're done! start downloading!
You should see a tab called "My Torrents", but it's empty. Remember, download a .torrent file, open it with Azureus, and it'll start the download. When the download is done it'll move to the bottom half of the "My Torrents" window, which means it's "seeding", or only sharing with others. You can seed and use/view your download while you're seeding. It's good to share!

Good luck and Happy Downloading!

NOTE: Remember to virus scan files from ANY p2p (file sharing) service, this way you know it's safe.