1. Introduction This document describes a protocol for interacting with Transmission sessions remotely. 1.1 Terminology The JSON terminology in RFC 4627 is used. In benc terms, a JSON "array" is equivalent to a benc list, a JSON "object" is equivalent to a benc dictionary, and a JSON object's "keys" are the dictionary's string keys. 2. Message Format Messages are formatted as objects. There are two types: requests (described in 2.1) and responses (described in 2.2). All text MUST be UTF-8 encoded. 2.1. Requests Requests support three keys: (1) A required "method" string telling the name of the method to invoke (2) An optional "arguments" object of key/value pairs (3) An optional "tag" number used by clients to track responses. If provided by a request, the response MUST include the same tag. 2.2. Responses Reponses support three keys: (1) A required "result" string whose value MUST be "success" on success, or an error string on failure. (2) An optional "arguments" object of key/value pairs (3) An optional "tag" number as described in 2.1. 2.3. Transport Mechanism HTTP POSTing a JSON-encoded request is the preferred way of communicating with a Transmission RPC server. The current Transmission implementation has the default URL as http://host:9091/transmission/rpc. Clients may use this as a default, but should allow the URL to be reconfigured, since the port and path may be changed to allow mapping and/or multiple daemons to run on a single server. In addition to POSTing, there's also a simple notation for sending requests in the query portion of a URL. This is not as robust, but can be useful for debugging and simple tasks. The notation works as follows: (1) Any key not "tag" or "method" is treated as an argument. (2) The "arguments" key isn't needed, since data isn't nested. (3) If the value in a key/value pair can be parsed as a number, then it is. Otherwise if it can be parsed as an array of numbers, then it is. Otherwise, it's parsed as a string. Examples: ?method=torrent-start&ids=1,2 ?method=session-set&speed-limit-down=50&speed-limit-down-enabled=1 3. Torrent Requests 3.1. Torrent Action Requests Method name | libtransmission function ---------------------+------------------------------------------------- "torrent-start" | tr_torrentStart "torrent-stop" | tr_torrentStop "torrent-verify" | tr_torrentVerify "torrent-reannounce" | tr_torrentManualUpdate ("ask tracker for more peers") Request arguments: "ids", which specifies which torrents to use. All torrents are used if the "ids" argument is omitted. "ids" should be one of the following: (1) an integer referring to a torrent id (2) a list of torrent id numbers, sha1 hash strings, or both (3) a string, "recently-active", for recently-active torrents Response arguments: none 3.2. Torrent Mutators Method name: "torrent-set" Request arguments: string | value type & description ----------------------+------------------------------------------------- "bandwidthPriority" | number this torrent's bandwidth tr_priority_t "downloadLimit" | number maximum download speed (KBps) "downloadLimited" | boolean true if "downloadLimit" is honored "files-wanted" | array indices of file(s) to download "files-unwanted" | array indices of file(s) to not download "honorsSessionLimits" | boolean true if session upload limits are honored "ids" | array torrent list, as described in 3.1 "location" | string new location of the torrent's content "peer-limit" | number maximum number of peers "priority-high" | array indices of high-priority file(s) "priority-low" | array indices of low-priority file(s) "priority-normal" | array indices of normal-priority file(s) "seedIdleLimit" | number torrent-level number of minutes of seeding inactivity "seedIdleMode" | number which seeding inactivity to use. See tr_inactvelimit "seedRatioLimit" | double torrent-level seeding ratio "seedRatioMode" | number which ratio to use. See tr_ratiolimit "trackerAdd" | array strings of URLs to add "trackerRemove" | array strings of URLs to remove "trackerReplace" | array pairs of old/new announce URLs "uploadLimit" | number maximum upload speed (KBps) "uploadLimited" | boolean true if "uploadLimit" is honored Just as an empty "ids" value is shorthand for "all ids", using an empty array for "files-wanted", "files-unwanted", "priority-high", "priority-low", or "priority-normal" is shorthand for saying "all files". Response arguments: none 3.3. Torrent Accessors Method name: "torrent-get". Request arguments: (1) An optional "ids" array as described in 3.1. (2) A required "fields" array of keys. (see list below) Response arguments: (1) A "torrents" array of objects, each of which contains the key/value pairs matching the request's "fields" argument. (2) If the request's "ids" field was "recently-active", a "removed" array of torrent-id numbers of recently-removed torrents. Note: For more information on what these fields mean, see the comments in libtransmission/transmission.h. The "source" column here corresponds to the data structure there. key | type | source ----------------------------+-----------------------------+--------- activityDate | number | tr_stat addedDate | number | tr_stat bandwidthPriority | number | tr_priority_t comment | string | tr_info corruptEver | number | tr_stat creator | string | tr_info dateCreated | number | tr_info desiredAvailable | number | tr_stat doneDate | number | tr_stat downloadDir | string | tr_torrent downloadedEver | number | tr_stat downloadLimit | number | tr_torrent downloadLimited | boolean | tr_torrent error | number | tr_stat errorString | string | tr_stat eta | number | tr_stat files | array (see below) | n/a fileStats | array (see below) | n/a hashString | string | tr_info haveUnchecked | number | tr_stat haveValid | number | tr_stat honorsSessionLimits | boolean | tr_torrent id | number | tr_torrent isFinished | boolean | tr_stat isPrivate | boolean | tr_torrent leftUntilDone | number | tr_stat magnetLink | number | n/a manualAnnounceTime | number | tr_stat maxConnectedPeers | number | tr_torrent metadataPercentComplete | double | tr_stat name | string | tr_info peer-limit | number | tr_torrent peers | array (see below) | n/a peersConnected | number | tr_stat peersFrom | object (see below) | n/a peersGettingFromUs | number | tr_stat peersKnown | number | tr_stat peersSendingToUs | number | tr_stat percentDone | double | tr_stat pieces | string (see below) | tr_torrent pieceCount | number | tr_info pieceSize | number | tr_info priorities | array (see below) | n/a rateDownload (KBps) | double | tr_stat rateUpload (KBps) | double | tr_stat recheckProgress | double | tr_stat seedIdleLimit | number | tr_torrent seedIdleMode | number | tr_inactvelimit seedRatioLimit | double | tr_torrent seedRatioMode | number | tr_ratiolimit sizeWhenDone | number | tr_stat startDate | number | tr_stat status | number | tr_stat trackers | array (see below) | n/a trackerStats | array (see below) | n/a totalSize | number | tr_info torrentFile | string | tr_info uploadedEver | number | tr_stat uploadLimit | number | tr_torrent uploadLimited | boolean | tr_torrent uploadRatio | double | tr_stat wanted | array (see below) | n/a webseeds | array (see below) | n/a webseedsSendingToUs | number | tr_stat | | | | -------------------+--------+-----------------------------+ files | array of objects, each containing: | +-------------------------+------------+ | key | type | | bytesCompleted | number | tr_torrent | length | number | tr_info | name | string | tr_info -------------------+--------------------------------------+ fileStats | a file's non-constant properties. | | array of tr_info.filecount objects, | | each containing: | +-------------------------+------------+ | bytesCompleted | number | tr_torrent | wanted | boolean | tr_info | priority | number | tr_info -------------------+--------------------------------------+ peers | array of objects, each containing: | +-------------------------+------------+ | address | string | tr_peer_stat | clientName | string | tr_peer_stat | clientIsChoked | boolean | tr_peer_stat | clientIsInterested | boolean | tr_peer_stat | flagStr | string | tr_peer_stat | isDownloadingFrom | boolean | tr_peer_stat | isEncrypted | boolean | tr_peer_stat | isIncoming | boolean | tr_peer_stat | isUploadingTo | boolean | tr_peer_stat | peerIsChoked | boolean | tr_peer_stat | peerIsInterested | boolean | tr_peer_stat | port | number | tr_peer_stat | progress | double | tr_peer_stat | rateToClient (KBps) | double | tr_peer_stat | rateToPeer (KBps) | double | tr_peer_stat -------------------+--------------------------------------+ peersFrom | an object containing: | +-------------------------+------------+ | fromCache | number | tr_stat | fromDht | number | tr_stat | fromIncoming | number | tr_stat | fromLtep | number | tr_stat | fromPex | number | tr_stat | fromTracker | number | tr_stat -------------------+--------------------------------------+ pieces | A bitfield holding pieceCount flags | tr_torrent | which are set to 'true' if we have | | the piece matching that position. | | JSON doesn't allow raw binary data, | | so this is a base64-encoded string. | -------------------+--------------------------------------+ priorities | an array of tr_info.filecount | tr_info | numbers. each is the tr_priority_t | | mode for the corresponding file. | -------------------+--------------------------------------+ trackers | array of objects, each containing: | +-------------------------+------------+ | announce | string | tr_tracker_info | scrape | string | tr_tracker_info | tier | number | tr_tracker_info | id | number | tr_tracker_info -------------------+--------------------------------------+ trackerStats | array of objects, each containing: | +-------------------------+------------+ | announce | string | tr_tracker_stat | announceState | number | tr_tracker_stat | downloadCount | number | tr_tracker_stat | hasAnnounced | boolean | tr_tracker_stat | hasScraped | boolean | tr_tracker_stat | host | string | tr_tracker_stat | id | number | tr_tracker_stat | isBackup | boolean | tr_tracker_stat | lastAnnouncePeerCount | number | tr_tracker_stat | lastAnnounceResult | string | tr_tracker_stat | lastAnnounceStartTime | number | tr_tracker_stat | lastAnnounceSucceeded | boolean | tr_tracker_stat | lastAnnounceTime | number | tr_tracker_stat | lastAnnounceTimedOut | boolean | tr_tracker_stat | lastScrapeResult | string | tr_tracker_stat | lastScrapeStartTime | number | tr_tracker_stat | lastScrapeSucceeded | boolean | tr_tracker_stat | lastScrapeTime | number | tr_tracker_stat | lastScrapeTimedOut | boolean | tr_tracker_stat | leecherCount | number | tr_tracker_stat | nextAnnounceTime | number | tr_tracker_stat | nextScrapeTime | number | tr_tracker_stat | scrapeState | number | tr_tracker_stat | seederCount | number | tr_tracker_stat | tier | number | tr_tracker_stat -------------------+-------------------------+------------+ wanted | an array of tr_info.fileCount | tr_info | 'booleans' true if the corresponding | | file is to be downloaded. | -------------------+--------------------------------------+ webseeds | an array of strings: | +-------------------------+------------+ | webseed | string | tr_info +-------------------------+------------+ Example: Say we want to get the name and total size of torrents #7 and #10. Request: { "arguments": { "fields": [ "id", "name", "totalSize" ], "ids": [ 7, 10 ] }, "method": "torrent-get", "tag": 39693 } Response: { "arguments": { "torrents": [ { "id": 10, "name": "Fedora x86_64 DVD", "totalSize": 34983493932, }, { "id": 7, "name": "Ubuntu x86_64 DVD", "totalSize", 9923890123, } ] }, "result": "success", "tag": 39693 } 3.4. Adding a Torrent Method name: "torrent-add" Request arguments: key | value type & description ---------------------+------------------------------------------------- "download-dir" | string path to download the torrent to "filename" | string filename or URL of the .torrent file "metainfo" | string base64-encoded .torrent content "paused" | boolean if true, don't start the torrent "peer-limit" | number maximum number of peers "bandwidthPriority" | number torrent's bandwidth tr_priority_t "files-wanted" | array indices of file(s) to download "files-unwanted" | array indices of file(s) to not download "priority-high" | array indices of high-priority file(s) "priority-low" | array indices of low-priority file(s) "priority-normal" | array indices of normal-priority file(s) Either "filename" OR "metainfo" MUST be included. All other arguments are optional. Response arguments: on success, a "torrent-added" object in the form of one of 3.3's tr_info objects with the fields for id, name, and hashString. 3.5. Removing a Torrent Method name: "torrent-remove" Request arguments: string | value type & description ---------------------------+------------------------------------------------- "ids" | array torrent list, as described in 3.1 "delete-local-data" | boolean delete local data. (default: false) Response arguments: none 3.6. Moving a Torrent Method name: "torrent-set-location" Request arguments: string | value type & description ---------------------------+------------------------------------------------- "ids" | array torrent list, as described in 3.1 "location" | string the new torrent location "move" | boolean if true, move from previous location. | otherwise, search "location" for files Response arguments: none 4. Session Requests 4.1. Session Arguments string | value type & description ---------------------------------+------------------------------------------------- "alt-speed-down" | number max global download speed (KBps) "alt-speed-enabled" | boolean true means use the alt speeds "alt-speed-time-begin" | number when to turn on alt speeds (units: minutes after midnight) "alt-speed-time-enabled" | boolean true means the scheduled on/off times are used "alt-speed-time-end" | number when to turn off alt speeds (units: same) "alt-speed-time-day" | number what day(s) to turn on alt speeds (look at tr_sched_day) "alt-speed-up" | number max global upload speed (KBps) "blocklist-enabled" | boolean true means enabled "blocklist-size" | number number of rules in the blocklist "cache-size" | number maximum size of the disk cache (MB) "config-dir" | string location of transmission's configuration directory "download-dir" | string default path to download torrents "dht-enabled" | boolean true means allow dht in public torrents "encryption" | string "required", "preferred", "tolerated" "inactive-seeding-limit" | number the default seed inactivity limit for torrents to use "inactive-seeding-limit-enabled" | boolean true if the seeding inactivity limit is honored by default "incomplete-dir" | string path for incomplete torrents, when enabled "incomplete-dir-enabled" | boolean true means keep torrents in incomplete-dir until done "lpd-enabled" | boolean true means allow Local Peer Discovery in public torrents "peer-limit-global" | number maximum global number of peers "peer-limit-per-torrent" | number maximum global number of peers "pex-enabled" | boolean true means allow pex in public torrents "peer-port" | number port number "peer-port-random-on-start" | boolean true means pick a random peer port on launch "port-forwarding-enabled" | boolean true means enabled "rename-partial-files" | boolean true means append ".part" to incomplete files "rpc-version" | number the current RPC API version "rpc-version-minimum" | number the minimum RPC API version supported "script-torrent-done-filename" | string filename of the script to run "script-torrent-done-enabled" | boolean whether or not to call the "done" script "seedRatioLimit" | double the default seed ratio for torrents to use "seedRatioLimited" | boolean true if seedRatioLimit is honored by default "speed-limit-down" | number max global download speed (KBps) "speed-limit-down-enabled" | boolean true means enabled "speed-limit-up" | number max global upload speed (KBps) "speed-limit-up-enabled" | boolean true means enabled "start-added-torrents" | boolean true means added torrents will be started right away "trash-original-torrent-files" | boolean true means the .torrent file of added torrents will be deleted "version" | string long version string "$version ($revision)" "rpc-version" indicates the RPC interface version supported by the RPC server. It is incremented when a new version of Transmission changes the RPC interface. "rpc-version-minimum" indicates the oldest API supported by the RPC server. It is changes when a new version of Transmission changes the RPC interface in a way that is not backwards compatible. There are no plans for this to be common behavior. 4.1.1. Mutators Method name: "session-set" Request arguments: one or more of 4.1's arguments, except: "blocklist-size", "config-dir", "rpc-version", "rpc-version-minimum", and "version" Response arguments: none 4.1.2. Accessors Method name: "session-get" Request arguments: none Response arguments: all of 4.1's arguments 4.2. Session Statistics Method name: "session-stats" Request arguments: none Response arguments: string | value type ---------------------------+------------------------------------------------- "activeTorrentCount" | number "downloadSpeed" | number "pausedTorrentCount" | number "torrentCount" | number "uploadSpeed" | number ---------------------------+-------------------------------+ "cumulative-stats" | object, containing: | +------------------+------------+ | uploadedBytes | number | tr_session_stats | downloadedBytes | number | tr_session_stats | filesAdded | number | tr_session_stats | sessionCount | number | tr_session_stats | secondsActive | number | tr_session_stats ---------------------------+-------------------------------+ "current-stats" | object, containing: | +------------------+------------+ | uploadedBytes | number | tr_session_stats | downloadedBytes | number | tr_session_stats | filesAdded | number | tr_session_stats | sessionCount | number | tr_session_stats | secondsActive | number | tr_session_stats 4.3. Blocklist Method name: "blocklist-update" Request arguments: none Response arguments: a number "blocklist-size" 4.4. Port Checking This method tests to see if your incoming peer port is accessible from the outside world. Method name: "port-test" Request arguments: none Response arguments: a bool, "port-is-open" 5.0. Protocol Versions The following changes have been made to the RPC interface: RPC | Release | Backwards | | Vers. | Version | Compat? | Method | Description ------+---------+-----------+----------------+------------------------------- 1 | 1.30 | n/a | n/a | Initial version ------+---------+-----------+----------------+------------------------------- 2 | 1.34 | yes | torrent-get | new arg "peers" ------+---------+-----------+----------------+------------------------------- 3 | 1.41 | yes | torrent-get | added "port" to "peers" | | yes | torrent-get | new arg "downloaders" | | yes | session-get | new arg "version" | | yes | torrent-remove | new method ------+---------+-----------+----------------+------------------------------- 4 | 1.50 | yes | session-get | new arg "rpc-version" | | yes | session-get | new arg "rpc-version-minimum" | | yes | session-stats | added "cumulative-stats" | | yes | session-stats | added "current-stats" | | yes | torrent-get | new arg "downloadDir" ------+---------+-----------+----------------+------------------------------- 5 | 1.60 | yes | | new method "torrent-reannounce" | | yes | | new method "blocklist-update" | | yes | | new method "port-test" | | | | | | yes | session-get | new arg "alt-speed-begin" | | yes | session-get | new arg "alt-speed-down" | | yes | session-get | new arg "alt-speed-enabled" | | yes | session-get | new arg "alt-speed-end" | | yes | session-get | new arg "alt-speed-time-enabled" | | yes | session-get | new arg "alt-speed-up" | | yes | session-get | new arg "blocklist-enabled" | | yes | session-get | new arg "blocklist-size" | | yes | session-get | new arg "peer-limit-per-torrent" | | yes | session-get | new arg "seedRatioLimit" | | yes | session-get | new arg "seedRatioLimited" | | NO | session-get | renamed "pex-allowed" to "pex-enabled" | | NO | session-get | renamed "port" to "peer-port" | | NO | session-get | renamed "peer-limit" to "peer-limit-global" | | | | | | yes | torrent-add | new arg "files-unwanted" | | yes | torrent-add | new arg "files-wanted" | | yes | torrent-add | new arg "priority-high" | | yes | torrent-add | new arg "priority-low" | | yes | torrent-add | new arg "priority-normal" | | | | | | yes | torrent-set | new arg "bandwidthPriority" | | yes | torrent-set | new arg "honorsSessionLimits" | | yes | torrent-set | new arg "seedRatioLimit" | | yes | torrent-set | new arg "seedRatioLimited" | | NO | torrent-set | renamed "speed-limit-down" to "downloadLimit" | | NO | torrent-set | renamed "speed-limit-down-enabled" to "downloadLimited" | | NO | torrent-set | renamed "speed-limit-up" to "uploadLimit" | | NO | torrent-set | renamed "speed-limit-up-enabled" to "uploadLimited" | | | | | | yes | torrent-get | new arg "bandwidthPriority" | | yes | torrent-get | new arg "fileStats" | | yes | torrent-get | new arg "honorsSessionLimits" | | yes | torrent-get | new arg "percentDone" | | yes | torrent-get | new arg "pieces" | | yes | torrent-get | new arg "seedRatioLimit" | | yes | torrent-get | new arg "seedRatioMode" | | yes | torrent-get | new arg "torrentFile" | | yes | torrent-get | new ids option "recently-active" | | NO | torrent-get | removed arg "downloadLimitMode" | | NO | torrent-get | removed arg "uploadLimitMode" ------+---------+-----------+----------------+------------------------------- 6 | 1.70 | yes | | new "method torrent-set-location" ------+---------+-----------+----------------+------------------------------- 7 | 1.80 | NO | torrent-get | removed arg "announceResponse" | | NO | torrent-get | removed arg "announceURL" | | NO | torrent-get | removed arg "downloaders" | | NO | torrent-get | removed arg "lastAnnounceTime" | | NO | torrent-get | removed arg "lastScrapeTime" | | NO | torrent-get | removed arg "leechers" | | NO | torrent-get | removed arg "nextAnnounceTime" | | NO | torrent-get | removed arg "nextScrapeTime" | | NO | torrent-get | removed arg "scrapeResponse" | | NO | torrent-get | removed arg "scrapeURL" | | NO | torrent-get | removed arg "seeders" | | NO | torrent-get | removed arg "timesCompleted" | | NO | torrent-get | removed arg "swarmSpeed" | | yes | torrent-get | new arg "magnetLink" | | yes | torrent-get | new arg "metadataPercentComplete" | | yes | torrent-get | new arg "trackerStats" | | yes | session-set | new arg "incomplete-dir" | | yes | session-set | new arg "incomplete-dir-enabled" ------+---------+-----------+----------------+------------------------------- 8 | 1.90 | yes | session-set | new arg "rename-partial-files" | | yes | session-get | new arg "rename-partial-files" | | yes | session-get | new arg "config-dir" | | yes | torrent-add | new arg "bandwidthPriority" | | yes | torrent-get | new trackerStats arg "lastAnnounceTimedOut" ------+---------+-----------+----------------+------------------------------- 8 | 1.92 | yes | torrent-get | new trackerStats arg "lastScrapeTimedOut" ------+---------+-----------+----------------+------------------------------- 9 | 2.00 | yes | session-set | new arg "start-added-torrents" | | yes | session-set | new arg "trash-original-torrent-files" | | yes | session-get | new arg "start-added-torrents" | | yes | session-get | new arg "trash-original-torrent-files" | | yes | torrent-get | new arg "isFinished" ------+---------+-----------+----------------+------------------------------- 10 | 2.10 | yes | session-get | new arg "cache-size" | | yes | torrent-set | new arg "trackerAdd" | | yes | torrent-set | new arg "trackerEdit" | | yes | torrent-set | new arg "trackerRemove" | | yes | session-set | new arg "inactive-seeding-limit" | | yes | session-set | new arg "inactive-seeding-limit-enabled" | | yes | session-get | new arg "inactive-seeding-limit" | | yes | session-get | new arg "inactive-seeding-limit-enabled" | | yes | torrent-set | new arg "seedIdleLimit" | | yes | torrent-set | new arg "seedIdleMode" | | NO | torrent-get | units for "rateDownload" changed from B to KB | | NO | torrent-get | units for "rateUpload" changed from B to KB