BitTorrent

I was puzzled as to what the issue is with BitTorrent, and astonished to read that it will use up all available bandwidth ...

Then the word "client" sank in. Am I now reading this right, that the objection is to BitTorrent *download* software, not to setting up feeds?

If that's the case, I think the TOS are remarkably mild on the subject. Downloading software is something I pay my ISP for, and if I were rude enough to do it through my hosting account, I think the host would be well justified in requiring me to desist, regardless of TOS.

BitTorrent clients run on person computers. BitTirrent trackers, run as consistant processes and keep track of seeders and other related information. The Trackers are what's not allowed on DH.



-Matttail

Then I'm back to my original puzzled state. However, this is really just curiosity - I think I should have postponed the question until (and if) I sign up.

There are actually a few BitTorrent clients that are designed to run under a web hosting account and those are what caused us to address the situation and add wording about it to our ToS.

We also don't allow BitTorrent trackers as the busy ones can be very resource intensive.

We decided it was in the best interests of the majority of our customers to just say no to anything BitTorrent-related.

- Dallas
- DreamHost Head Honcho/Founder

just wondering... I use Azureus and it has a built in tracker so it only relies on my computer resources. But is it still allow if a forum that has a torrent monitor, like just displaying what torrents im hosting on my machine and how many people are uploading from me and seeding?

From the (today's) TOS:

Servers are shared with other customers, and as such IRC-related activities, BitTorrent software, or severely CPU intensive CGI scripts (e.g. chat scripts, scripts which have bugs causing them to not close properly after being run) are not encouraged. IRC bots and bouncers (BNC) as well as BitTorrent software specifically may not be run on any DreamHost Webhosting server, and if your processes are adversely affecting server performance disproportionately DreamHost Webhosting reserves the right to negotiate additional charges with the Customer and/or the discontinuation of the offending processes.

Comments:
* IANAL But,
* Summary: "not encouraged" versus "may not be run" blah blah blah, "we'll let you know"...
* No sharing software on shared servers. :-)
* Links to .torrent files for the newer versions of trackerless, off-server hosted, bittorrents ought not be a problem, since it won't impact the server more than any other small sized file, and assuming files being exchanged are legal...
* DH doesn't even date the TOS, so who knows when or what was last changed? Or maybe I missed the announcements... customers better revise or move site immediately, or within 30 days of being notified of violation?

> just say no to anything BitTorrent-related.

But the t-shirt is so cool. :-) [truth in posting note: affiliate link, Bram Cohen's, not mine]

Cheers,

BobS