Downloading Coursework for Initiates

Whyte Horse wrote: Why not throw up a few torrents on the server and he can let them download for a few days, read/watch them after they complete. Torrents rock because they can auto-resume and be left running all night, etc.

I agree with the torrent idea, in general, but I don't know necessarily that it would be helpful to the OP in his current situation. Hi, btw, Kromtor! Welcome.

Can he/she run a bittorrent client? If so, that's what I did when in Indonesia. We had dial-up speeds but I would just leave it downloading overnight and get like 750MB movies over the course of 1-2 days.

Whyte Horse wrote: Can he/she run a bittorrent client? If so, that's what I did when in Indonesia. We had dial-up speeds but I would just leave it downloading overnight and get like 750MB movies over the course of 1-2 days.

I just assumed with that sort of bandwidth and the nature of the work that they would be limited in their ability to tie up said line for extended periods, out of respect for the others who might like to use it.

Until recently we were able to download torrents, but just last week or so, they started blocking all torrent ports for our networks here. The internet in our rooms here on this base is almost like old 24.4k dial up modems, and every 4 hours it drops us off and makes us log back into the network. Funny thing is the best time to download is at night when everyone is sleeping, but then you have to wake yourself up every 4 hours to login again. Not sure how many people here remember 24.4k modems, but it was slow as slow can be. But I do thank you for the ideas, you are right that would be the fastest way to go.

Unfortunately, services like torrents are frequently blocked to our deployers for the very reason steamboat mentioned. It's either the bandwidth is extremely limited, or even sometimes they can only be using the internet when they're actively logged into and using the computer in question. Unreliable is also extremely true, as the internet out there frequently drops out, sometimes for hours at a time. Larger bases might have a wifi set up, for access on a personal computer. But even that frequently crashes. And then there's the internet black outs...

Even if he were to be able to leave a connection open, where it might take him 3-4 days to download a single document, he'll get the dvd/USB within a week of someone sending it. So while a torrent does sound like a good idea, it simply isn't practical for a deployer.

Sounds like you've been here before Avalon?

I was in a one-cow-town in Indonesia and I could get 128kB/s over 3G. Sadly, when I came back to the US I couldn't get 3G internet and the local internet was slower than 128k. And this proves, once and for all, that the USA is #1. YEAH!

Kromtor wrote: Sounds like you've been here before Avalon?

No. But I am acting as the PoA for my brother, who's currently over there. And unfortunately, no one seems to understand that he doesn't have steady internet service...And he's at one of the bigger bases.

There's also the issue of network security on base....or at least on the comms base I was on (we weren't allowed internet access in the dorms, on base housing, or workplaces with a few exceptions)...one of my many co-lateral duties was taso(terminal area security officer) and i'd have to spend at least one day a week running to the few computers with internet access and searching for unauthorized data rated higher than classified... it was a hassle cracking passwords and searching drives for hours at a time....

Now if anyone is needing/missing ip material I have all of it on my laptop, a flash drive, and some on google drive/docs...for brothers(or sisters) in arms i'd be more than willing to help out....

All that being said, if the trouble of starting it up wouldn't be too much, I am fully in support of a torrent-able version of many of these materials.

If you need anything further, please let us know! We have a large library of stuff you can look at as well to supplement your IP learning and can send you enough thumb drives to build a computer stand!

I admire your steadfastness in studying your Initiate material during a conflict, but more so your willingness to ask us for help. Thank you for the opportunity to be your support community!

Stay safe, my friend!

Its in the post! Should be with you soon

Brenna wrote: Its in the post! Should be with you soon

I can't thank you enough, I'll actually be able to do something in my downtime to not lose my mind anymore than they are causing me to. Maybe I'll actually regain some perspective on my life again!

Kromtor wrote:

Brenna wrote: Its in the post! Should be with you soon

I can't thank you enough, I'll actually be able to do something in my downtime to not lose my mind anymore than they are causing me to. Maybe I'll actually regain some perspective on my life again!

You are very welcome. Let me know when it arrives

Will do, are you still in NZ, or are you in the states?

In NZ

sidenote: should we start a separate topic for discussion of the torrent idea for the future?

I don't know about this....

Torrents, I mean...

Really, as Ren is our Librarian, he should be here speaking, lol...

I don't see anything wrong with this thread being used for this discussion...

In the BitTorrent file distribution system, a torrent file is a computer file that contains metadata about files and folders to be distributed, and usually also a list of the network locations of trackers, which are computers that help participants in the system find each other and form efficient distribution groups called swarms. A torrent file does not contain the content to be distributed; it only contains information about those files, such as their names, sizes, folder structure, and cryptographic hash values for verifying file integrity. Depending on context, a torrent may be the torrent file or the referenced content.

Typically, Internet access is asymmetrical, supporting greater download speeds than upload speeds, limiting the bandwidth of each download, and sometimes enforcing bandwidth caps and periods where systems are not accessible. This creates inefficiency when many people want to obtain the same set of files from a single source; the source must always be online and must have massive outbound bandwidth. The BitTorrent protocol addresses this by decentralizing the distribution, leveraging the ability of people to network "peer-to-peer", among themselves.

Each file to be distributed is divided into small information chunks called pieces. Downloading peers achieve rapid download speeds by requesting multiple pieces from different computers in the swarm. Once obtained, these pieces are usually immediately made available for download by others in the swarm. In this way, the burden on the network is spread among the downloaders, rather than concentrating at a central distribution hub or cluster. As long as all the pieces are available, peers (downloaders and uploaders) can come and go; no one peer needs to have all the chunks, or to even stay connected to the swarm in order for distribution to continue among the other peers.

As we are a singular unit I am not sure how adding ourselves to a swarm would help when most if not all information is already out there to be found via torrent. And, I would view it as an additional security risk. Just my opinion though... for what it is.

Wescli Wardest wrote: As we are a singular unit I am not sure how adding ourselves to a swarm would help when most if not all information is already out there to be found via torrent. And, I would view it as an additional security risk. Just my opinion though... for what it is.

My train of thought was that while "we" are a single unit, we utilize separate machines. The IP requests the files be downloaded rather than streamed for very logical reasons, and my thinking was that a torrent would lighten the burden on the bandwidth of the TotJO server itself by dividing distribution among many members.

I don't necessarily see it as a greater security risk than the current model of operation--could you help me understand your reasoning in this regard?