Optimizing Vuze (formerly Azureus) for Speed

Optimizing a Bittorrent client, like Vuze, for speed is an easy process: Choose a proper port, clear that port through software firewall and router and adjust internal settings based upon upload capacity of the internet connection.  Basically, the port forwarding allows incoming communications and the capping of upload allows room for outgoing communications.  This guide hopes to clearly and concisely set forth these basic steps to getting the best download speed in Vuze. 
There are some programs that claim they can increase download speed in Vuze.  Those programs should be avoided as they generally contain adware or spyware and can do no more than proper setup of the client as set forth herein.  This guide is based upon entries at the Azureus-Wiki and the Vuze forums.

Note When viewing this guide in Internet Explorer the Mac command key symbol appears as a box.  I do not know why yet.  Also, in IE, this guide is now showing at the bottom of the page,  with the top blank.  This apparently is due to the recent change in layout here, but the reason has not been determined.
This guide will work for all versions of Azureus or Vuze (including the new 4.0) and BitTyrant.

Mode
To make sure that you can see all the options referenced here you should be in Mode = Advanced.
The location for this in Windows/Linux is Tools>Options (Ctrl+,)>Mode; In Mac Azureus>Preferences (⌘ + ,)>Mode

Choosing a proper port  Azureus-Wiki:  Port is Blacklisted
A single port within the 49152-65534 range should be chosen to avoid ISP blocks and possible conflicts with other applications.

In Vuze Windows/Linux at (Ctrl+,)>Connection   Mac at (⌘ + ,)>Connection - “Incoming TCP UDP Port”

Peer Sources-While you are at the Connection section of Options, you will see a section on Peer Sources in the middle of the page.  These all are enabled by default and and should be left enabled as they will ensure that you connect with as many seeds and peers as possible.  Among these are what is commomly referred to as PEX or Peer Exchange (in Vuze, "Supplied by another peer") and DHT or Distributed Hash Table (in Vuze, "Decentralized Tracking").  These two allow communications outside of the tracker and will find seeds/peers without a tracker and can keep you torrent alive even when a tracker is down.  The Vuze DHT is different from the DHT used by other bittorrent clients, so it will only contact Vuze users.  However, the "Mainline" DHT, which is used by the others, is now available as a plugin for Vuze.  Mainline DHT Plugin Download

For those of you on an extended network, the "LAN Peer Finder Plugin" (installed, but not enabled, by default) will locate peers on your network who are active on your torrents.  If it finds someone, then you will be able to transfer at great speeds as it will be on your network connection.  This setting in Windows/Linux is at (Ctrl+,)>Plugins>LAN Peer Finder and in Mac at (⌘ + ,)>Plugins>LAN Peer Finder.

Forwarding the Port:  Essentially this is about setting permission in your software firewall and router for your bittorrent client to send and receive communications.

Software firewall – The best place to look is in the help file of your software firewall. There are some guides at the µTorrent forum (substitute Vuze when necessary) and also at PortForward.com Firewall Guides (choose firewall and then Azureus as program).  Communications should be allowed for TCP and UDP in both directions.

Router (or modem with firewall) - There are two choices here, Universal Plug n Play (UPnP) or manual forwarding. The choice is basically convenience versus security. UPnP is easy, but has security issues. A router blocks unknown incoming connections at the hardware level and provides significant protection for your computer. Enabling UPnP allows any program to create a port mapping through the router without consent of the owner. I would suggest to at least try manual port forwarding through the router as it is not as difficult as it may seem (especially with the guides) and is safer. In any event, read the following section on UPnP as it is an either/or situation and UPnP will have to be disabled if manually forwarding. 

UPnP (NAT-PMP - Apple)  Must be enabled/disabled in client and router.  

Vuze:  Windows/Linux: (Ctrl+,)>Plugins>UPnP

Vuze:Mac: (⌘ + ,)>Plugins>UPnP>NAT-PMP

Manual Port Forwarding:  Portforward.com Azureus Router Index

Again, the router documentation is the best place to look for this information. PortForward.com Azureus Router Index has guides for almost all routers and Vuze (formerly known as Azureus). Choose the make and model of your router and you will be taken to a page with a guide specific to Vuze and your router.  Many of the Vuze screenshots will be out of date as it is constantly updated, but the information should still apply and these screenshots should help.  Make certain to also check the Static IP Guide.

When finished, you can test to see if your port is properly forwarded at Can you see me?.

Adjusting Internal Settings:  This involves taking a speed test, using the calculator to determine the settings that should be used and inputing those settings in your client.  The most important setting is to cap upload at no more than 80% of your overall upload capacity as there needs to be room for communications to the tracker or else download speeds will suffer.  Download could also be capped (at 90%), but this is not necessary as this is rarely an issue.

Speed Test: Speedtest.net
First the upload capacity of your internet connection must be determined by taking an online speed test. You should stop all internet activity, including torrents, before taking the test and the test should be taken a few times to obtain a reliable average. Speedtest.net has test locations worldwide and will highlight the one closest to you. Note that the result of Speedtest.net is in kilobits (kb) and bittorrent clients show speeds in kilobytes (kB). This is important as 8kb = 1kB. See Azureus-Wiki: Data Units

Calculator:  Azureus Upload Settings Calculator
Once you have an average upload speed for your connection go to the online Azureus Upload Settings Calculator. Although designed for Azureus, this calculator will work for all bittorrent clients. Enter your average upload speed in the appropriate box and the calculator will automatically give the proper figures to adjust various options in your client.  The location of these options in Vuze is identified in the Calculator.

Windows/Linux at (Ctrl+,)>Transfer   Mac at (⌘ + ,)>Transfer

Windows/Linux at (Ctrl+,)>Queue   Mac at (⌘ + ,)>Queue

The above settings should work well most of the time.  Downloads of individual torrents depends on other factors.  See Good Torrents

After you have finished setting your Vuze up, you might want to check out my article Searching for Torrents, which lists, with comments, the more popular torrent search sites.  I have also prepared an article Finding Legal (and Free) Torrents, which lists sites that offer only content that is legally downloadable and distributable.

If you have any questions or suggestions, you may post in the comments below.  But, it would be better to post in our Bittorrent Client forums if you need help.

This guide was prepared on August 1, 2008, based on Vuze 3.1.1.0.