A Simple Way to Remotely Download Torrents on the Mac

Written by Smaran on January 04, 2007 

There are many ways to remotely initiate BitTorrent downloads, but most are complicated and require tweaking. Here’s an easy way to remotely download torrents with only an instant messaging application and a BitTorrent client.

The most common way to remotely download torrents is via a WebUI. On the Mac, the only BitTorrent client with a WebUI is Azureus, and that’s via a plug-in. Most people would find it confusing to open up ports in their software firewall to configure the plug-in, and TorrentFlux is strictly for über geeks. Thanks to a bit of clever thinking on the part of Ruairi, a contributor to macosxhints.com, you won’t have to bother with any advanced settings or run the PHP-based TorrentFlux on your web server.

Here’s what you need to do:

  • You will need to have either Adium or iChat+Chax installed. Both Adium and the Chax plug-in for iChat are free.
  • Set up a new iChat account (or any other kind of account — except Gtalk — for Adium). This will be logged in on your home machine.
  • Then add the new account you’ve created as a buddy on your normal account, which you’ll use at work, school or wherever.
  • In iChat > Preferences > Chax (or Adium > Preferences > File Transfer) set it to automatically accept file transfers, and specify a directory, even Desktop will do. I recommend you use Adium, since it gives you the extra option of accepting file transfers only from your contacts.
  • Adium Auto-Accept

  • Now set up either Transmission (Beta), Azureus or Xtorrent to watch that directory for torrent files.
  • Transmission Prefs

    That’s it, you’re done. Now whenever you send your IM account that’s logged in at home a torrent file, it’ll automatically start downloading it! A simple, yet effective solution.

    Have you already tried this, and has it worked for you?

    Previously: BitThief Downloads Torrents Without Uploading

    Next: TorrentPod Episode 20

    36 Responses

    Pages: [1] 2 » Show All

    1 Jan 04, 2007 at 18:45 by Ben

    Nice idea and a good text :). I will try it at the weekend.
    Thanks

    Regards Ben

    2 Jan 05, 2007 at 12:36 by oli young

    “set it to automatically accept file transfers”

    welcome to a whole world of hurt … the horrible inherent dangers in doing that should be pointed out

    3 Jan 05, 2007 at 12:46 by Joseph Le Brech

    “welcome to a whole world of hurt … the horrible inherent dangers in doing that should be pointed out”

    Notice the “only accept from my contact list”, this means you make a IM user with just you as a contact, then you are safe. And you can send it torrent files all day long.

    4 Jan 05, 2007 at 13:56 by Gaz

    Not Tried this but could you not do a similar thing but using FolderShare instead. Set it up to sync a folder between machines then when you place the torrent in that folder it’s synced to the mac. Saves having to setup a new IM Account just for sending torrents to your Mac. Best of all FolderShare has a Windows & Mac client (Although it has now been bought by microsoft so watch this space).

    5 Jan 05, 2007 at 14:20 by gez

    my solution is:

    1) ssh to mac
    2) cd /Downloads
    3) wget http://the.torrent.file.i.want.to.download/file.torrent
    4) open Applications/Bittorrent.App &

    if Bittorrent.App is running, it just simply adds the file to it.
    good bye.

    6 Jan 05, 2007 at 14:23 by Tim

    My solution is:

    VNC to my mac.

    7 Jan 05, 2007 at 14:24 by Smaran

    @ Ben: Glad you liked it. Check back later for a tutorial on how to set up the Azureus WebUI.

    @ Oli: As I mentioned in the article, it’s much safer to use Adium. If you don’t want to, then just create a really complicated and long AIM ID to use with iChat+Chax.

    @ Gaz: I try and avoid Microsoft products, other than Windows, which I cannot live without (for games).

    8 Jan 05, 2007 at 14:44 by Scott

    Ignoring FolderShare is like ignoring you won $1000.

    9 Jan 05, 2007 at 15:25 by larry the dwarf

    I just use the Azureus web interface…

    10 Jan 05, 2007 at 15:39 by Gustavo

    I’ve set up a azureus rss plugin pointing to my blog. All I have to do is post whatever I want in my blog and azureus will start downloading it in a few minutes.

    11 Jan 05, 2007 at 19:08 by what-the-who-what?

    What is the point of remotely initiating BitTorrent downloads? Is it for safety or just a cool thing to do? Sorry, I am not too bright.

    12 Jan 05, 2007 at 20:49 by Tom

    @what-the-who-what?: If your at work, you could start downloading Lost on your home machine, so it’s ready to watch when you get home.

    13 Jan 06, 2007 at 13:29 by beosro

    Nice and crystal-clear solution. I love Macs!

    14 Jan 06, 2007 at 15:11 by alex

    this is not a good idea… setting up torrentflux is MUCH easier

    15 Jan 08, 2007 at 20:28 by Fishd

    Set up Mail.app with your regular e-mail account.

    Create a rule that activates when matching *all* of the following conditions:

    From is: your e-mail address
    Subject is: a secret passphrase
    Attachment name contains: torrent

    And get it to run a custom applescript to save the torrent to your torrent directory. set up transmission as above.

    Suggested Applescript:
    using terms from application “Mail”
    on perform mail action with messages The_Messages
    tell application “Mail” to repeat with this_message in The_Messages
    set attachement_file to first mail attachment of this_message
    set attachment_name to name of the first mail attachment of this_message
    save attachement_file in “Users::Desktop:” & attachment_name
    end repeat
    end perform mail action with messages
    end using terms from

    And you’ll need to alter the save attachment path listed in the applescript which, to give proper credit, was listed here: http://bbs.applescript.net/viewtopic.php?pid=72121

    16 Jan 09, 2007 at 07:43 by Teeerevor

    Hey has any one had a problem with transmission not opening the torrent files once they have been downloaded?

    It’s just not starting the download. is there a way to make it check for new files? say every 1/2 hour?

    17 Jan 26, 2007 at 05:51 by Ben

    What does this mean. Please explain the abbrebiations and references. Thanks:

    Jan 05, 2007 at 14:20 by gez
    my solution is:

    1) ssh to mac
    2) cd /Downloads
    3) wget http://the.torrent.file.i.want.to.download/file.torrent
    4) open Applications/Bittorrent.App &

    18 Jan 26, 2007 at 10:10 by Ritch

    [quote comment="36729"]this is not a good idea… setting up torrentflux is MUCH easier[/quote]
    I agree - much less work, too…

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