I am using a Firewall. How can I configure this to allow the fastest downloads?

Answer

Don't forget file transfers are a two way street. BitTorrent file transfers involve both incoming
AND outgoing connections. As you get pieces of a file, you send those pieces to others trying to
download the same file. This tit-for-tat file sharing scheme means more efficient downloads for
you because you aren't getting your file from just one person. But if you aren't sharing many
files, or you've set your client to limit uploading, you'll have slower, less efficient downloads. The
BitTorrent protocol does this on purpose. Our community fosters sharing--if you take a file, it is
good practice to share it with others.

The firewall
Most networks use some sort of firewall. A firewall blocks unwanted network traffic from
reaching your computer. This is usually done at your router, but it can also be in the form of
software such as Windows Firewall (which many Windows users don't even realize they are
using), ZoneAlarm, or other products. The firewall allows traffic through on certain "ports". Ports
are numbered from 0 to 65536. For example, Web traffic comes through port 80. BitTorrent
traffic must be allowed through on some port in the same way. If you don't set your firewall to
allow BitTorrent traffic, it may be blocked. You will still be able to download files, but other
clients will not be able to get pieces from you, which means you don't get the fast download
rate you want. There are two common ways to fix this. One, UPnP, is fairly automatic, and an
easier method if your firewall supports it. The other is port forwarding. Both are addressed
below.

UPnP (Windows users only)

UPnP stands for "Universal Plug and Play," and it's the easiest way to get BitTorrent and your
firewall to cooperate. To adjust your settings, do these steps:

1. Check your router manual on how to adjust your settings and make sure UPnP is active.
It's often defaulted to "off."
2. Next, launch the BitTorrent client and turn on UPnP there. To do this, go to View--
Settings. Click the Network tab. At the bottom of the Network window, make sure the box
labeled "Enable Automatic Port Mapping (UPnP)" is checked.

The next time BitTorrent tries to connect, it should be able to use UPnP to navigate your firewall
to an open connection.
 Port Forwarding

If your firewall does not support UPnP, try port forwarding. To do this:

1. Find out the IP address of your computer.

2. Check your manual on how to turn on port forwarding in your router or firewall software.
Port forwarding specifics for most routers can also be found at
http://www.portforward.com/routers.htm
3. Choose a port number you will use. It must be between 1024 and 65535. (Tip: Higher
numbers are less likely to be used by something else.)
4. In your router or firewall software, enter your chosen port number and your computer's
IP address, and activate both TCP and UDP for this port. If asked for a range of numbers,
enter the number you chose and anther one about 10 higher (ex. 53001-53010).
5. From the BitTorrent client, select "View--Settings" from the menu. Click the Network
Tab. (Mac users: go to BitTorrent--Settings, then click the Network tab.)
6. At the bottom of the Network window, find the section labeled "Look for available port:"
and enter the port number you chose in the box.

The next time BitTorrent tries to connect, it should be able to navigate your firewall via the port
number you specified.
Either method should insure smoother sailing in navigating your network. Again, neither UPnP
nor port forwarding is required to download with BitTorrent. It will simply allow your client to
make more efficient connections.

BitTorrent-at-work users note: In a corporate environment, firewall settings are not often
changeable by people who aren't in IT. The same also goes for most colleges and
universities. Also keep in mind that some routers have additional settings which can interfere
with incoming traffic. Consult your manual for information on all settings your router uses to
control network traffic flow.

People have reported that computers connecting to the Internet via Windows ICS can have very
slow connection speeds when running BitTorrent. In this case, run BitTorrent from the computer
directly connected to the Internet for better speed.

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