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How to Install the Latest Version of rTorrent

A guide for installing the latest stable version of rTorrent on Ubuntu.

Apr 4, 2007 11:39 GMT  ·  By
rTorrent Screenshot
   rTorrent Screenshot

rTorrent is a text-based (ncurses) BitTorrent client written in C++ and based on the libTorrent libraries. It differentiates itself from other clients by high performance and speed (3 times faster than the official BitTorrent client). It also doesn't need a graphical interface to run and can be managed remotely through an SSH connection which makes it suitable for running on servers and other machines without graphical interface. So besides its speed and low resources requirements, it provides a rather high maneuverability, as it can be controlled from basically any computer connected to the Internet.

Unfortunately, the Ubuntu repository provides an older version (0.5.3), as opposed to the version available as source package on the website (0.7.1). The difference between the two versions includes several bug fixes and new features available in the latest version.

PREQUISITES

Before installing rTorrent, you'll need to clean your system if you have installed the version available in the repository. To do this, open a terminal and type:

code
sudo apt-get remove rtorrent libtorrent7
Next, install the dependencies and prepare your system for compiling:
code
sudo apt-get install build-essential libsigc++-2.0-dev pkg-config comerr-dev libcurl3-openssl-dev libidn11-dev libkadm55 libkrb5-dev libssl-dev zlib1g-dev libncurses5 libncurses5-dev
INSTALLING

Now, download the libtorrent and rTorrent source packages and install them in this order. To do this, follow these instructions:

code
cd /tmp
wget http://libtorrent.rakshasa.no/downloads/libtorrent-0.11.1.tar.gz
wget http://libtorrent.rakshasa.no/downloads/rtorrent-0.7.1.tar.gz

tar xfz libtorrent-0.11.1.tar.gz
cd libtorrent-0.11.1
./configure
make
sudo make install

tar xfz rtorrent-0.7.1.tar.gz
cd rtorrent-0.7.1
./configure
make
sudo make install
AVOID FIREWALL

On most Linux systems, a firewall blocks if not all, then most of the ports so running a torrent client inside a locked-down machine will result in connectivity loss and low transfer rates. To avoid this, run the following command in a terminal to ensure the ports used by rTorrent will be open:

code
sudo iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dports 6890:6999 -j ACCEPT
RUNNING rTorrent � QUICK QUIDE

You system is now ready to run rTorrent. Open a terminal and type:

code
rtorrent
If this is the first time running rTorrent, you'll be a little confused as there are no toolbars or buttons - rTorrent is used through keyboard shortcuts. These are the basic keys for using rTorrent:

Increase the upload speed limit by 1/5/50 KB - a/s/d Decrease the upload speed limit by 1/5/50 KB - z/x/c Increase the download speed limit by 1/5/50 KB - A/S/D (shift + a) Decrease the download speed limit by 1/5/50 KB - Z/X/C

Load a torrent - backspace (use TAB to auto-complete torrent name) Select items - up/down arrow Switch to torrent/download view - left/right arrow Quit - Ctrl + q

In download view: Adjust uploads no - 1/2 Adjust min peers no - 3/4 Adjust max peers no - 5/6 Adjust file priority (in File list) - spacebar for single file / * (shift+8) for all files

For more control keys, open a terminal and type man rtorrent. For more info about rTorrent, read Softpedia's rTorrent Review.