Search code examples
c#.netbittorrentresume-downloadmonotorrent

MonoTorrent to distribute software


Just wondering of what people think of using MonoTorrent and the torrent protocol as the core part of an installer....

Essentially I am creating an installer which has the following requirements:

  • Access through Firewalls/Proxies
  • Runs over SSL
  • Authenticated access to the installer/files
  • Background download
  • Handel bad connections (i.e. if a disconnect occurs, pickup downloads that were halfway through a file)
  • Validate integrity of downloaded content
  • Download Throttling

So given all of this, I thought that embedding MonoTorrent in the installer package, running a private tracker and having the clients download (no seeding only leaching) from the server would be a good idea.

This also has the side benefit of being able to bring extra servers online or offline depending on load.

What do you guys think? Can I get this functionality from MonoTorrent and how hard is it to setup? Is there a better alternative that will meet these requirements?


Solution

  • I can't comment specifically on MonoTorrent, but large software companies have indeed used the torrent protocol to distribute patchers and installers (see Blizzard Entertainment, for example).