FTP - Download Corruption - Can I avoid re-downloading the lot?

[David_Jones]

Hi All,

I am downloading the latest Debian Linux distro (3.0r4) by FTP over a dial-up connection (it will take me weeks, but I don't really mind that - I have unlimited usage on dialup and enough patience so far!).

I am using the SmartFTP client.

The problem is that when I download the ISO, the MD5 Sum does not match the number required, indicating that the file is not complete or is corrupt. When I burned the ISO to a CD-R and did a file check, I had 1,922 files on the CD compared to the 3,577 I should have got.

*Questions*

1) Is there any software out there (free!) that will just download the corrupt parts again, or am I just hoping against hope?

2) Would Bit Torrent be a more reliable way to download the ISOs (7 or 9 I think each of which is around 600Mb)? Bear in mind that speed / time is not a significant issue, but reliability is what I want - I would rather it took me a week to get each ISO but it worked first time, than get it in 3 days but find it was corrupt.

3) Are there any other options that still use dial-up (I don't want to use my broadband quota nor buy the CD set despite the low cost) to download the ISOs that I am missing?


Thanks in advance,

David.

[Force Flow]

1) If it is a single file, then no, you cannot find the "corrupted part"

2) Bittorrent would be a bit more reliable since the data is downloaded in small chunks.

3) You could try other filesharing programs, but I'd say your best be would be bittorrent. If you have a friend who has broadband, you could ask him/her to download it and burn it to a CD.

[David_Jones]

Hi Force Flow,

Originally Posted by Force Flow 1) If it is a single file, then no, you cannot find the "corrupted part" 2) Bittorrent would be a bit more reliable since the data is downloaded in small chunks. 3) You could try other filesharing programs, but I'd say your best be would be bittorrent. If you have a friend who has broadband, you could ask him/her to download it and burn it to a CD.

Thank you for your quick response.

Looks like I will go with Bit Torrent - none of my friends are on unlimited usage broadband, so I feel a bit awkward asking them.

I have tried to time it towards the end of my billing month, but I tend to miss, forget, or already be over!

Do you use Bit Torrent yourself? If so, do you have a recommended client? I went to sf.net and it looks like Azereus is very popular over there so I was thinking I'd try that. Do you (or anyone else) feel strongly about the client to use?

Thanks again,

David.

PS: Congratulations on becoming a moderator - You have certainly been putting some time in looking at your post count compared to mine in the same duration!

[J1978]

HI there

Azeurus is not bad but since it is a java based client it tends to hog down your ressources a bit. you could try Bitcomet..click me

[David_Jones]

Hi J1978,

Thanks for the pointer - I will check it out. I also had a separate recommendation to use the Jigdo app specifically (I believe) for downloading debian packages.

Thanks,

David.