Search code examples
bittorrenttorrent

Does the BitTorrent Multitracker extension cause split swarms?

The Wikipedia page of BitTorrent says regarding Multitracker torrents, "One disadvantage to this is that it becomes possible to have multiple unconnected swarms for a single torrent where some users can connect to one specific tracker while being unable to connect to another. This can create a disjoint set which can impede the efficiency of a torrent to transfer the files it describes."

Can someone please give me an example of this?

Thanks.

Solution

  • The information on the wikipedia page is old and no longer relevant.

    Split swarms was only a problem between the introduction of:
    Multi-trackers extension:BEP12 around 2004
    and the introduction of:
    PeerEXchange(PEX):BEP11 and the DHT distributed tracker:BEP5 around 2005.

    These three extensions working together creates a single unified swarm.