How to use the command 'transmission-cli' (with examples)

Transmission-cli is a lightweight, command-line BitTorrent client that allows users to download and manage torrent files. It is deprecated and advised to use transmission-remote instead. This article provides examples of various use cases of the transmission-cli command.

Use case 1: Download a specific torrent

Code:

transmission-cli url|magnet|path/to/file

Motivation: This use case allows users to download a specific torrent file. It can be useful when you want to quickly download a specific file or content.

Explanation:

• url|magnet|path/to/file: This argument specifies the URL, magnet link, or path to the torrent file that you want to download.

Example output:

Downloading torrent: xxx
Progress: [=========>                  ] 30%

Use case 2: Download a torrent to a specific directory

Code:

transmission-cli --download-dir path/to/download_directory url|magnet|path/to/file

Motivation: By specifying a specific download directory, you can organize and manage your downloaded torrent files more efficiently.

Explanation:

• --download-dir: This option is used to specify the path to the directory where you want to save the downloaded torrent file.
• path/to/download_directory: This argument represents the path to the desired download directory.
• url|magnet|path/to/file: This argument specifies the URL, magnet link, or path to the torrent file that you want to download.

Example output:

Downloading torrent: xxx
Saving to: path/to/download_directory/torrent_file_name

Use case 3: Create a torrent file from a specific file or directory

Code:

transmission-cli --new path/to/source_file_or_directory

Motivation: Creating a torrent file from a specific file or directory allows you to share your own content with others using the BitTorrent protocol.

Explanation:

• --new: This option is used to create a new torrent file.
• path/to/source_file_or_directory: This argument represents the path to the file or directory that you want to create a torrent file from.

Example output:

New torrent created: path/to/torrent_file.torrent

Use case 4: Set the download speed limit to 50 KB/s

Code:

transmission-cli --downlimit 50 url|magnet|path/to/file

Motivation: Setting a download speed limit can be useful when you want to control the bandwidth usage of your torrent downloads.

Explanation:

• --downlimit: This option is used to set the maximum download speed limit in kilobytes per second (KB/s).
• 50: This argument specifies the desired download speed limit in KB/s.
• url|magnet|path/to/file: This argument specifies the URL, magnet link, or path to the torrent file that you want to download.

Example output:

Download speed limit set to: 50 KB/s

Use case 5: Set the upload speed limit to 50 KB/s

Code:

transmission-cli --uplimit 50 url|magnet|path/to/file

Motivation: Similar to setting the download speed limit, setting an upload speed limit allows you to control the bandwidth usage of your torrent uploads.

Explanation:

• --uplimit: This option is used to set the maximum upload speed limit in kilobytes per second (KB/s).
• 50: This argument specifies the desired upload speed limit in KB/s.
• url|magnet|path/to/file: This argument specifies the URL, magnet link, or path to the torrent file that you want to download.

Example output:

Upload speed limit set to: 50 KB/s

Use case 6: Use a specific port for connections

Code:

transmission-cli --port port_number url|magnet|path/to/file

Motivation: Using a specific port for connections can be helpful in situations where the default port is blocked or restricted.

Explanation:

• --port: This option is used to set the specific port number for connections.
• port_number: This argument specifies the desired port number to use for connections.
• url|magnet|path/to/file: This argument specifies the URL, magnet link, or path to the torrent file that you want to download.

Example output:

Using port: port_number

Use case 7: Force encryption for peer connections

Code:

transmission-cli --encryption-required url|magnet|path/to/file

Motivation: Forcing encryption for peer connections can help enhance privacy and security when downloading or uploading torrent files.

Explanation:

• --encryption-required: This option is used to enforce encryption for peer connections.
• url|magnet|path/to/file: This argument specifies the URL, magnet link, or path to the torrent file that you want to download.

Example output:

Encryption required for peer connections.

Use case 8: Use a Bluetack-formatted peer blocklist

Code:

transmission-cli --blocklist blocklist_url|path/to/blocklist url|magnet|path/to/file

Motivation: Using a peer blocklist, especially Bluetack-formatted ones, can help you avoid connecting to potentially malicious or unwanted peers.

Explanation:

• --blocklist: This option is used to specify the URL or path to the Bluetack-formatted peer blocklist.
• blocklist_url|path/to/blocklist: This argument represents the URL or path to the Bluetack-formatted blocklist.
• url|magnet|path/to/file: This argument specifies the URL, magnet link, or path to the torrent file that you want to download.

Example output:

Using Bluetack-formatted peer blocklist: blocklist_url

Conclusion:

The transmission-cli command provides various options and arguments to download, manage, and control torrent files using a command-line interface. By understanding the different use cases and examples outlined in this article, users can effectively utilize this command to fit their specific needs and preferences.