Internet crashes when using Bittorent...why?

Question

I'm using Azureus regularly at the moment to download some large files, and I've noticed that whenever it's running, my internet connection seems to cut out every 20 minutes or so, sometimes more often, sometimes less. I know it's not the Windows TCP connections security limit, because I changed that and it keeps happening. It might be the router (BT Voyager, connected via USB), or it might be the computer (Vista). Whatever it is, unplugging then replugging the USB connection always gets it running again, but it does rather disrupt the downloads and also means I spend several minutes each time trying to work out why the page I'm on isn't loading. It's not always obvious when it happens, and there doesn't seem to be any regular pattern to it - it managed to download a whole GB last night before crashing out, then this morning managed only a few hundred MB. As far as I know, my router is running the latest firmware, and I can't think of anything else I ought to say...
Thanks,
T

@Jamie: No, it's not illegal, I'm downloading Ubuntu and a Nero Demo right now.

@Maniac: Thanks, I guess I forgot to say that I removed the limit on the connections, as I didn't know there was a reason not to. One day I will understand these things, or just get a more expensive router. It took me all day to open the right port in the router to get it working at all (but that was because the retards at BT didn't give me my router's password, not because of any technical inexpertise...)
T

@Carling: Thanks for the advice - I decided to use Azureus because it's easier to control what's going on, and also there are other files I am downloading and seeding which are of course not illegal as I would never dream of doing such a thing. I have a couple of Linux dists (which I downloaded via DAP (great program), but it clogs up bandwith, so I switched to torrents for ease of regulation), and I decided to try Ubuntu at the recommendation of a friend. I may end up downloading it overnight using a download manager, but I'm hopeful - it hasn't crashed once since I changed those settings Maniac mentioned...

Answer 1

Bittorrent connects to many users to download a tiny bit of the file from each user at the same time. It is not uncommon for bittorrent clients to have over 100 connections open at once.

Cheap routers, like the ones that BT give out freely, do not have enough power to run NAT on so many connections at once. Eventually there will be too many connections open and the router will crash/reboot.

A way to fix this is to look for a setting in Azureus to limit the number of concurrent connections. You want it as high as possible, but not too high or your router will reboot. Try tweaking with this setting.

Try either of these

* Limit the Maximum number of connections per torrent in Azureus > Tools > Options > Transfer to 40 or less, as well as limit Maximum number of connections globally to 100 or less.


* Reduce the Max simultaneous outbound connection attempts rate to 1 or 2 in Azureus > Tools > Options > Connection.

Answer 2

go to ubuntu web site and get them to send you a free copy of the cd,

when you have downloaded the full version you will still need to make a ISO copy so that it will boot from the cd, for this you will need a cd writer and software to make the ISO copy

now one major problem in downloading big file is you can only download so much a day, with some ISP's............. Ubuntu is a 700 meg download,

by the way good choice in trying out Ubuntu it is excellent

Answer 3

Are all you patch's up to date? Check for spy-ware sounds like a common worm that crashes IE7. If you have not already got AVG free try it. Also try Zone alarm free it works quite well. There are lots of free anti spy-ware on the web go with what you are happy with. Good luck.

Answer 4

because you're downloading illegally!