What is an appropriate ratio?

[nweissma]

what is considered to be an appropriate ratio? and how should it be achieved -- unlimited ul-bandwidth after the dl is completed, or ul a percentage of dl-bandwidth?

i tried uTorrent search engine "appropriate ratio" -- :couldn't find anything relevant.

[moogly]

1 is the best in theory.

[-=Mr_B=-]

Wouldn't the best ratio be dependent on what your trying to achieve?

If "everyone" is supposed to break even, then yes, 1:1 would be it. But even in a ideal world this isn't going to happen, the last guy downloading will have to take up the slack for the uploaded, who for obvious reason haven't downloaded anything of the torrent. 1:1 is only a goal if your aim is that everyone should upload as much. Someone with a faster hookup should ideally upload more, and a slower user should be allowed to simply show that they are doing a effort. That way i get my stuff as fast as possible. And thats always my goal.

B!

[GTHK]

1:1 would be appropriate, returning the favor to the swarm, but when possible let it sit as long as possible, especially so for nearly dead torrents (though some believe old torrents should die and new ones should be seeded more).

[M64117]

1:1 would be appropriate, returning the favor to the swarm, but when possible let it sit as long as possible, especially so for nearly dead torrents (though some believe old torrents should die and new ones should be seeded more).

Presumably if you were downloading from an old torrent you would expect to finish and not be cut off part way through. So if you find a torrent which looks to be in trouble – maybe you are the only seeder – you should favour it over other torrents.

Overall a 1:1 ratio assumes that everyone else does the same and we all know that is not so. Some downloaders help out more than others and some simply cut and run. If you have bandwidth to use you should use it even if your ratios already look comfortable.

M