Running IRC/Bittorrent on VPS

**shinji** · 05-12-2006, 03:46 PM

Is running IRC or Bittorrent servers permitted on VPS servers? Just so you know here is the specific purposes I had in mind. I have 2 sites getting set up so site 1 would be getting IRC and site 2 would be getting Bittorrent.

IRC: Alternative tech support method. Probably fairly inactive but will have a strict policy about file servers (i.e. not allowed).

Bittorrent: Distribution of extremely large (few hundred meg) files however this server will not be sharing the files directly. This will be up to a friend to power seed the files. The large files are home videos of recent concerts for a certain band. We have full permission to distribute the files as we see fit as we were the ones to make them (their words).

**Vin DSL** · 05-12-2006, 04:03 PM

Here's a discussion concerning IRC and Bittorrent on dedicated servers:

http://jaguarpc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12792

Maybe Jag will pop in here and clear things up...

**shinji** · 05-12-2006, 05:02 PM

OK. I might submit a ticket to try and get a response but just to clarify something. This server won't be on any kind of major network.

**Gwaihir** · 05-12-2006, 05:03 PM

Both are permitted on VPS, but especially with the latter it seems to be a good idea to keep a short line to the staff about what you're doing with it. See that other thread: seems so far Jag himself hasn't yet heard of it being used for perfectly legal stuff..

Actually, Jag: it sees a LOT of cool and perfectly legal stuff. It's pretty much the preferred method for sharing larger files of anything these days and as such might well move more legal bytes around nowadays then for example FTP. And yeah, it sees a lot of illegal action too on top of that. But well, you still got guns too and you Texans even love 'm, right?

**shinji** · 05-12-2006, 07:30 PM

Well technically speaking any method of file transfer sees illegal activity regardless of their purposes. They might as well ban the internet while they are at it but that is just my opinion. From word of mouth I have heard that the illegal file distribution scene has been moving back to using newsgroups now especially with mp3s and all the stuff that has been going around with it. The bittorrent and irc server thing is a bit out there but it is something I have been looking at and want to be sure it won't violate anything. The bittorrent server is going to be on a really short leash (i.e. only the admin or certain members can add stuff). I already know that much.

**Rebel007** · 05-13-2006, 08:29 AM

From a clients P.O.V. I am quite pleased Jag doesn't seem to allow these type of programs on its servers, it only needs one person on a server to abuse them and that can affect everyone.

The resources this software can use, means, in many cases (even though this may not be your intention) other users are subsidising the people running IRC/Torrent programs both in financial terms and in resource terms. So although everyone is paying the same, some people are using far more resources than others, even if its only (with a VPS) in terms of resources available for burst purposes.

I may be selfish, but I for one hope Jaguar stick to their current policies regarding this, at least on anything other than dedicated servers where anything that an individual does, has much less effect on other clients (Although even misusing a dedicated server can cause negative impact for other customers, since servers and whole IP ranges can be blocked because of one individuals illegal activites and/or email spamming operation)

**rainboy** · 05-13-2006, 08:53 AM

I would almost agree with rebel, now i can understand a filesharing server of some kind for legal purposes. And why not using something like bittorrent to do so. A public (or even private) FTP server can cause the exact same problems, so where to draw the line.

I for one also would not like to share the hardware node my VPS server is running on with someone having bittorent and irc services on it. But i do not have much choice if JPC decides to allow it for you. I can only hope they will monitor your activity a lot, and there is where i think JPC will deny your requests, even IF its all legal, they will have to keep a close eye on it, to be sure it stays that way. Which means more time, thus more resources (human). But thats all up to JPC. Lucky for you

Kind regards,
Patrick

**shinji** · 05-13-2006, 09:00 PM

Well I just got the official word back. IRC isn't permitted on any plan and Bittorrent isn't looking like it is going to happen even if it was permitted due to the potential load it can create. Looks like I am just going to have to bite it. Maybe setup a bandwidth cap (i.e. limit to 20K/sec for downloads >5MB) or use a 3rd party (off-site) tracker for the torrent files. The irc channel can be setup (and registered) on a major network but it would of been nice to have control of it here.

Oh and trust me I wouldn't want to make anyone mad by driving up the load on a node. ^_^

**shinji** · 05-13-2006, 09:39 PM

OK. So this is final clarification from the support ticket.

IRC Servers: Not allowed on any plan

Bittorrent Servers/Trackers: Not allowed on any plan

Torrent files: Permitted on VPS and probably dedicated server plans as long as it is LEGAL content.

That is good news for me because that means I can use a 3rd party tracker for the bittorrent part. I will likely be hosting the files on the server too using a bandwidth module in order to control the speed it downloads (i.e. so it doesn't hog the bandwidth).

**Vin DSL** · 05-14-2006, 04:13 AM

Originally Posted by shinji

IRC Servers: Not allowed on any plan

Bittorrent Servers: Not allowed on any plan

Torrent files: Permitted on VPS and probably dedicated server plans as long as it is LEGAL content.

That is good news for me because that means I can use a 3rd party tracker for the bittorrent part...

Um... Sorry, but I don't follow the logic!

If they don't allow, as I expected, IRC and Bittorrent servers, why would they allow a tracker?

Did you ask 'them', specifically, about the Bittorrent tracker?

To my way of thinking, they do NOT want ANY programs running in the background... servers, trackers, chatrooms, bots, e.g. anything...

*edit* Oops! Didn't see the (off-site) comment on the first reading...

**shinji** · 05-14-2006, 10:58 AM

Yea. I would group tracker to be the same as server. However it is the individual .torrent files that they will permit as long as it is for only legal content. I will edit it in my post above to be clearer.

Oh and trackers don't have to run in the background all the time (there are some php script based ones) however I think they could potentially cause the same issue.