I find they're faster too. Another benefit of them being distributed is the distributor doesn't have to pay for all the bandwidth for every download, which I understand can be a considerable savings for smaller distros.
The torrent client also verifies the checksum for each chunk and automatically redownloads any corrupted chunks. With a direct download, you would have to manually verify the checksum and redownload the whole thing if it's corrupted.
You save the server bandwidth bills and have all the people currently downloading help you get it instead of competing with you. Also, most torrent clients are way more competent and featurefull for handling downloads than most browsers.
If the cdn limits download speeds, it can be quite a bit faster. Like I have gigabit speeds at my library. Its faster to torrent the os and download it from my seedbox than it is to do a direct download.
I think I'm still seeding a Lubuntu from a couple of months ago, I don't remember deleting it. I'll check later.
Edit: I just checked, it's been there for a little less than a month, I really thought it was longer, it has a ratio of 5.32 not bad for something that many seeds.
Additionally it can screw up sometimes. There are known issues with it with OpenSuse, causing either defective repo settings (the detection of the physical media gets mangled) or even unbootable systems. I think this can also happen on some other distros, given Ventoy's uncommon bootchain.
Given the unexplained blobs as well at least OpenSuse recommends not to use Ventoy.
37 Comments
maxprime@lemmy.ml · 80 pts · 218d
I use Arch btw.
thinkercharmercoderfarmer@slrpnk.net · 33 pts · 218d
what client is that?
maxprime@lemmy.ml · 15 pts · 218d
qbit but its API is connected to Helmarr. I think Helmarr connects to transmission and deluge as well. iOS only.
thinkercharmercoderfarmer@slrpnk.net · 3 pts · 218d
thanks!
thinkercharmercoderfarmer@slrpnk.net · 59 pts · 218d
Haven't looked at my ratios in a while
dimjim@sh.itjust.works · 34 pts · 218d
Noob here, is there a benefit to torrenting Linux distros rather than downloading them from the website?
Edit: thank you for the education!
hellfire103@lemmy.ca · 93 pts · 218d
Torrent is fully decentralised and therefore accessible in practically all jurisdictions, regardless of the server status.
In many cases, I have also found Torrents to be considerably faster than direct downloads — however, your mileage may vary.
thinkercharmercoderfarmer@slrpnk.net · 63 pts · 218d
I find they're faster too. Another benefit of them being distributed is the distributor doesn't have to pay for all the bandwidth for every download, which I understand can be a considerable savings for smaller distros.
hellfire103@lemmy.ca · 24 pts · 218d
Even better!
cmnybo@discuss.tchncs.de · 51 pts · 218d
The torrent client also verifies the checksum for each chunk and automatically redownloads any corrupted chunks. With a direct download, you would have to manually verify the checksum and redownload the whole thing if it's corrupted.
janus2@lemmy.zip · 21 pts · 218d
i actually did not know that. now i have an excuse for never verifying pfffffff
marcos@lemmy.world · 37 pts · 218d
You save the server bandwidth bills and have all the people currently downloading help you get it instead of competing with you. Also, most torrent clients are way more competent and featurefull for handling downloads than most browsers.
Usually, it doesn't make a lot of difference.
janus2@lemmy.zip · 21 pts · 218d
i tell people* it's because torrents are faster**
but it's really because they're cooler
*i made that up i've never gotten that far into a conversation about distro downloads
**in my experience it is actually a bit faster
notthebees@reddthat.com · 3 pts · 218d
If the cdn limits download speeds, it can be quite a bit faster. Like I have gigabit speeds at my library. Its faster to torrent the os and download it from my seedbox than it is to do a direct download.
janus2@lemmy.zip · 2 pts · 218d
gigabit!? what amazing country does this library exist in!?
notthebees@reddthat.com · 3 pts · 217d
It's my university library. Should have clarified.
janus2@lemmy.zip · 2 pts · 217d
that's still impressive!
capuccino@lemmy.world · 18 pts · 218d
is that transmission?
janus2@lemmy.zip · 10 pts · 218d
affirmative
capuccino@lemmy.world · 8 pts · 218d
nice
Ludicrous0251@piefed.zip · 17 pts · 218d
I can't compete with the multi-TB seeders (blame my ISP's absolutely trash asymmetric upload rate), but I can still help!
some_linux_user@lemmy.world · 13 pts · 218d
None of these are my daily driver, FWIW I use Pop!
juipeltje@lemmy.world · 13 pts · 218d
Based transmission enjoyer (unless it's the qt version /j).
flameleaf@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 218d
Transmission is so good. I wish more applications offered multiple toolkit frontends.
I like the Qt version, btw
janus2@lemmy.zip · 4 pts · 218d
it's only half based cuz it was running on Windows (was too lazy to set up existing Debian box to use as the support PC)
eager_eagle@lemmy.world · 11 pts · 218d
704kB !
janus2@lemmy.zip · 9 pts · 218d
tyfys 🫡
x00z@lemmy.world · 10 pts · 217d
This is from a year or so.
Keep seeding my friends.
quediuspayu@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 9 pts · 218d
I think I'm still seeding a Lubuntu from a couple of months ago, I don't remember deleting it. I'll check later.
Edit: I just checked, it's been there for a little less than a month, I really thought it was longer, it has a ratio of 5.32 not bad for something that many seeds.
janus2@lemmy.zip · 4 pts · 218d
downloaded a lubuntu iso the other day, ty 🫡
gummybears@lemmy.zip · 6 pts · 218d
Nioxic@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 5 pts · 218d
why rufus, when there's ventoy?
janus2@lemmy.zip · 2 pts · 218d
wtf i wish i had known about this way earlier that looks SO much easier
https://www.ventoy.net/
0_o7@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 1 pts · 218d
Ventoy has some unexplained closed sourced blob in its repo afaik
https://github.com/ventoy/Ventoy/issues/2795
https://github.com/ventoy/Ventoy/issues/3224
I am not sure if it got resolved. I haven't stayed up to date. I switched to Rufus.
Natanox@discuss.tchncs.de · 1 pts · 217d
Additionally it can screw up sometimes. There are known issues with it with OpenSuse, causing either defective repo settings (the detection of the physical media gets mangled) or even unbootable systems. I think this can also happen on some other distros, given Ventoy's uncommon bootchain.
Given the unexplained blobs as well at least OpenSuse recommends not to use Ventoy.
Jankatarch@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 210d
I wish I could help with the server costs this way but if my ISP detects any torrent at all, even legal; they start emailing me literal threats.
janus2@lemmy.zip · 2 pts · 210d
what a bunch of bitches. i dream of truly free internet