Remote Torrent Downloads Via SSH
I don't like using bittorrent to download large files when I'm using my network at home; the process consumes my net connection and simple tasks like browsing the web become painfully slow. Instead, I start my torrent sessions remotely via an SSH connection while I'm at work. By doing this I maximise the potential of my 512k ADSL line by using it for downloading torrents when I'm connected to a different network.
SSH Server
On my home network I have an old Toshiba laptop running Ubuntu Server Edition. This system has OpenSSH Server installed and allows me to connect to my home network from my place of work. Unfortunately, installing, configuring and using OpenSSH Server is beyond the scope of this post. However, it's not too difficult and there are plenty of good articles out there about the subject. See: https://help.ubuntu.com/7.04/server/C/openssh-server.html
Screen and BitTornado
Once I'm connected to my home network I then use a combination of Screen and BitTornado to download any torrent files.
Screen enables me to start a download and exit my SSH connection without stopping the download. I can then reconnect via SSH and use the command "screen -r" to return to the download screen and check on the progress of the download.
BitTornado is not required but I like it as it adds additional features to Ubuntu's default bittorrent client.
You can install Screen and BitTornado with the following terminal command:
sudo apt-get install screen bittornado
Usage
1. To start a new download enter the following command [remember to replace the example URL with the location of the real torrent]:
screen btdownloadcurses http://example.com/example.torrent
You should now be able to see something similar to the screengrab below:
2. To detached the screen and leave the download running use the following key combination:
<Ctrl>+<A>+<D>
3. To reattach the screen enter the following command:
screen -r
4. Once the download has finished you can kill the screen with the following key combination:
<Ctrl>+<C>
Notes: If you have multiple screens running, entering the command "screen -r" will return a list of available screens to reattach.
More information about Screen and its usage is available with the following terminal command:
man screen
