Thread: uTorrent Linux Server Released, Client Coming Soon

Earlier this year BitTorrent Inc. promised they would release a Linux client this summer, and today they are one step closer to achieving that goal. The company just released uTorrent Server for Linux, a daemonizable 32-bit binary of the uTorrent core, suited to those familiar with running programs from the command line. A full Linux client is expected to follow in the coming weeks.

Ever since uTorrent was first released back in 2005, Mac and Linux users have been begging the developers to code a version compatible with their computers. In 2006, when uTorrent was sold to BitTorrent Inc., the company promised that a Mac version was coming, and in 2008 it was finally released.

Fast forward another two years and a Linux version was announced. Voted as one of the top suggestions for uTorrent in the client’s ‘Idea Bank‘, the massive demand from users for a Linux client was impossible to ignore. In June of this year BitTorrent Inc. officially stated that it was working on Linux programs, and today the first one was released.

BitTorrent’s VP of Product Management Simon Morris realizes that the company pretty much owed this release to the community that played such a vital role in popularizing the protocol.

“If any group has embraced the possibilities and power of BitTorrent for distribution, it is the Linux community. Virtually every distribution is available via torrent download and many even ship with a BitTorrent client in the default configuration,” he says today.

“This morning, we are announcing a preview release of the first of two new products for Linux users,” Morris added. “uTorrent Server, an alpha version available immediately for download, is intended for users seeking a fast, powerful and lightweight BitTorrent client without the need of the full features and complexity of the native GUI.”

Labeled as an Alpha release, uTorrent Linux Server precedes a client with a full featured UI which is expected to be released in the coming weeks. Today’s release is aimed at more Linux users, who are encouraged to leave feedback so the development team can prepare releases for specific Linux distros in the future. The server can be managed through an HTTP API or the uTorrent Web UI pictured below, which is included in the release.

uTorrent Server for Linux (Web UI)

“Today’s version is only the first step, and we will continue to support the Linux user community with new versions in the near future. If you prefer to stick to more conventional user experience, rest assured we are working hard to build a full-featured client, coming soon,” Morris announced. There is currently no update on whether the company will make the “summer” deadline they set earlier.

With uTorrent Server, BitTorrent Inc’s main brand is now supported on Windows, Mac and Linux platforms in common with its main competitor, Vuze. Whether it will reach the massive marketshare it has on Windows with the two latter platforms has still to be seen though. Considering the late entrance, uTorrent has a lot of ground to make up.

Source: uTorrent Linux Server Released, Client Coming Soon | TorrentFreak

Great news for Linux users.
Finally that day has come. Now, just wait for the first stable release.

I got it up an running already on my server and i have to say, so far i like it. It still has some bugs, but its still in Alpha so thats understandable. Overall im impressed and cant wait for this to become stable. Ill be testing out for awhile to see how it performs in the long run.

Also, it was pretty easy to setup, get up and running and it literally took minutes, so thats pretty cool. It runs as a daemon and u do all the controlling right from the webui. I like the idea of that and i even ran it under screen just for the fun of it and it works great.

I took a screen-shot for those who are interested and im looking forward to the stable release to this. If anyone wants to test this out on there server and doesnt know how to set it up just shoot me a pm and i will walk u right through it.

What does it mean to seedbox providers? Will they stick to rtorrent or make the switch? I'm excited now it would be GUIless.

this is indeed great news for all nix users


@Mike buddy,
any chance u can post some lines on how to get this to work
found an init script too but don't know how to edit and put it to use......
An init script for Ubuntu (Page 1) / Troubleshooting (Linux) / forum.utorrent.com
thanks in advance