Tracker Information
What is a BitTorrent tracker?
A BitTorrent tracker is a server that helps BitTorrent clients communicate. It coordinates file transfers between users (peers) by tracking who is sharing a given torrent. The tracker does not store any files — only information about active swarm participants.
What is OpenTracker?
OpenTracker is a high-performance BitTorrent tracker software created by erdgeist. It is open-source, extremely fast, and minimalist. It can handle millions of connections with minimal resource usage.
How does the tracker work?
A BitTorrent client sends an "announce" request to the tracker with the torrent's info_hash. The tracker responds with a list of peers currently sharing or downloading the same torrent. The tracker only knows: the info_hash, the peer's IP address, and port.
What data does the tracker store?
The tracker only stores active swarms — a list of info_hashes and their associated peers (IP + port). This data is temporary and removed when a peer's session expires. No files, torrent names, or content are stored.