KTorrent/Ubuntu

Here are the steps to install Transdroid when you use KTorrent on Ubuntu:

Setting up Ktorrent

KTorrent is the default torrent client for KDE-based Linux installations such as Kubuntu. You should already have it. However, if you don’t (or want to use it with Ubuntu as in this tutorial), it is easy to install. From the menu start the ‘Ubuntu Software Center’ and search for ‘ktorrent’. Click on the install button and soon KTorrent is fully installed on your system.

(If you are using Ubuntu and thus Gnome you need a lot of extra KDE packages so this download and install may take a while.)

Now we need to enable the KTorrent web interface first. Open KTorrent from ‘Applications -> Internet -> Ktorrent’, from the menu choose ‘Settings -> Configure KTorrent’ and go to the ‘Plugins’ settings tab. Enable the WebInterface by selecting the checkbox.

Now a new ‘Web Interface’ settings tab will appear. Open it to enter some critical settings. You can leave the ‘Web Server Port’ to the default 8080 or change it. If you change this, remember it because you will need it later on. Make sure you also full in you preferred username and password. These are up to your,but remember them because you will need them later.

You should now test if the web UI works. Open up your browser and go to http://127.0.0.1:8080. A login screen should be presented where you need to fill in the username and password that you just entered. You should now be logged in to the Web Interface, although you may of course have no running torrents yet.

Allow access from anywhere

The next step is very important if you want to use Transdroid to control KTorrent from anywhere you go and not just your home Wi-Fi network. You will need to open up the port 8080 and redirect this to your home computer. First get your Ubuntu computer’s IP address. Right-click on the connections icons in the top panel; this is the NetworkManager Applet. If choose ‘Connection Information’ it will give you some statistics about your current computer’s network connection. You need the number that says ‘IP Address’. Note it down or remember it: this is your computer local IP address.

Now go to your the manager interface of your router or ADSL modem. It will most likely have a NAT tab or settings screen. Here you will need to set up a port forward from all external traffic on port number 8080 to you local computers’ IP address – the one that you just retrieved from the Ubuntu connection manager – on the same port. There are too many routers and ADSL modems to make detailed explanations here, but you can use the website PortForward for in-depth help.

Setting up Transdroid

The final step is to set up Transdroid. Install the software from the Android Market and open up the application. You will see a message that you need to set up a server configuration first. Hit your Android device’s menu button and choose ‘Settings’. Next, click the ‘Add a server’ button to create your first server configuration. You can add more later, if you need to.

Now fill in all the settings. The name is totally up to you. From the type menu you choose for KTorrent of course.

The IP address is your server’s external IP address. If you do not know this, open up a browser on your Ubuntu machine and surf to whatismyip.com. It will present you the external IP address that you need in Transdroid.

The port number is the next setting and is 8080. (Except for when you manually changed it, of course.) You entered this in the KTorrent Web Interface settings tab.

Enable the authentication setting and fill out the username and password that you choose earlier.

Time to test your settings! First disconnect from the Wi-Fi network if you are connected to the local network (the one where your Ubuntu machine is in as well). This is important, because you will need to use different settings for that.

Now, hit the back button of your Android device twice to return to the main screen. It should now state that it is connecting to the sever. After a couple of seconds you should get a listing of all the active torrents in KTorrent. Reward yourself by downloading some torrents, right from your phone. 🙂

Local Wi-Fi network access

One thing you should know when you have a Wi-Fi network at home, is that you cannot use your external IP address as described above while you are connected this way. When connected to the wireless network that your Ubuntu machine is in, you will need to use your machine’s internal IP address instead.

Easiest thing to do is to open Transdroid’s settings menu again and add a new sever configuration. Use the exact same details that you used before, but now use your Ubuntu machine’s local IP address. Of course you also want to give it a name that identifies it as being your local configuration.

Give it a test by going to the main screen and choose ‘servers‘ from the menu. You can select the other configuration from the pop-up menu. A little tip: switching servers can also be done by swiping your finger from left to right (or the other way around). No need to open the menu each time!

Troubleshooting

If Transdroid refuses to connect you, use these steps to trace the problem.

First try to connect to the Web Interface directly from your Ubuntu machine. Start a browser and surf to http://127.0.0.1:8080. If you get a page not found error, you have not enabled the Web Interface in KTorrent or used a different port than 8080.

If you are presented a login page but are refused access, please check your username and password, maybe re-enter them. As long as you cannot even access the Web Interface, Transdroid will not work as well.

If this direct connection works, check if you can connect using Transdroid while connected on your internal Wi-Fi network. Remember to use you internal IP address now. If this works but external connections via 3G/EDGE don’t, you have not set up the port forwarding correctly.

Still having troubles? Use the ‘error report’ feature in Transdroid’s menu to get personal help.

Good luck and enjoy!