In
file sharing, super-seeding (aka 'Initial Seeding') is an
algorithm
In mathematics and computer science, an algorithm () is a finite sequence of rigorous instructions, typically used to solve a class of specific Computational problem, problems or to perform a computation. Algorithms are used as specificat ...
developed by John Hoffman for the
BitTorrent communications protocol that helps downloaders become uploaders more quickly, but it introduces the danger of total seeding failure if there is only one downloader.
The algorithm applies when there is only one
seed
A seed is an embryonic plant enclosed in a protective outer covering, along with a food reserve. The formation of the seed is a part of the process of reproduction in seed plants, the spermatophytes, including the gymnosperm and angiospe ...
in the
swarm. By permitting each
downloader to
download only specific parts of the
files listed in a
torrent
Torrent or torrents may refer to:
* A fast flowing stream
Animals
* Torrent duck, a species of the family Anatidae
* Torrent fish
* Torrent frog, various unrelated frogs
* Torrent robin, a bird species
* Torrent salamander, a family of sala ...
, it allows peers to start
seeding
The term seeding and related terms such as seeded are used in several different contexts:
*Sowing, planting seeds in a place or on an object
*Cloud seeding, manipulating cloud formations
*Seeding (computing), a concept in computing and peer-to-pee ...
more quickly. Peers attached to a seed with super-seeding enabled therefore distribute pieces of the torrent file much more readily before they have completed the download themselves.
In 2003, BitTornado became the first
BitTorrent client to implement the algorithm.
Effects
Testing by one group found that super seeding can help save an upload ratio of around 20%. It works best when the upload speed of the seed is greater than that of individual peers.
Super seeding transfers stall when there is only one downloading client. The seeders will not send more data until a second client receives the data. To avoid this,
rTorrent continues to offer more pieces to the peers without waiting for confirmation, until it is uploading at its configured capacity.
RTorrentInitialSeeding – The libTorrent and rTorrent Project
Libtorrent.rakshasa.no. Retrieved on 2011-12-03. This improves the upload speed until enough peers have joined the swarm, at the cost of not being able to detect cheating peers, who engage in such anti-social actions as downloading only from seeds, downloading from the fastest peers, or advertising false pieces.
Supporting clients
References
External links
Description of original super-seed algorithm in BitTornado
Report by Robb Toploski
(''Issue #4 & 5 are regarding Super Seeding'')
{{DEFAULTSORT:Super-seeding
BitTorrent
de:BitTorrent#Superseeding