Helping us help yourself
Can all members who want support add to their signature (You can edit it through "My Controls") the following information? It is useful for identifying the possible problems for your situation. We don't need it to be too specific, just a rough outline. Alternatively add it to profile if its easier on the eyes.

* CPU Make/Speed - RAM - Hard Drive Space - Operating System
* Type of connection to net/Speed - Router make/model? (if any) Does it have NAT? -- firewall?
* eMule Plus Settings (Max conn, per 5sec, sources per file, upload/download limits, client version)


Why should you use eMule/eMulePlus/eDonkey...

- Completed files are 100% corrupt-free (Not present in Kazaa/WinMX)
Assuming the original file was corrupt-free of course. You may have noticed eMule will sometimes display a corrupted part in the log, but don't worry the corrupted part will be re-downloaded automatically, or fixed by the ICH.
eMule does not require you to download the entire file again if you pick up bad data, only the part affected will be redownloaded, saving you bandwidth and time.

- Multisource (Not present in DirectConnect)
Files in your download list can be downloaded from multiple sources rather than from a single source.

- Partial sharing (Not present in Kazaa)
When you download a complete part, this part is becomes available for other users to get from you. This allows the files to be quickly distributed.

- Quick distribution of new files
The eMule official board has given a good example of how well it distributes so I'm not gonna repeat it
Look for the "basic overview of the ED2K network" section.

- Great for older releases or less popular files
Because of ED2K communities, and approaches to distribution and source finding used by eMule, old/rare/unpopular files can be obtained.

- Different Mods
The open source code allows programmer's to create their own "eMule", which you are free to try out without having to be held down by one.

- Increasing community
The network is growing fast... more users means more files.

- Few fake files
With the introduction of index sites, it is very rare to come across fake files. Even if you do encounter fakes, the fake report link in eMule Plus will allow you to name the file as a fake to help other users.

- Better source finding
When you connect to a server, eMule Plus is able to find sources on other servers, without the need to jump around. Source search is performed every few minutes, so you will soon find sources you need.

- Good credit system / leecher ban features
This network works by giving you more credits if you share more. Users with leecher mods will be detected by fair clients and banned from downloading from you. Thanks to dynamic banning, you will be able to download from unfair clients, but they can't from you :)

- Non-elitist
eMule does not force you to share X amount of files, or to have X slots open for upload to enter a server, like that of DirectConnect, we only ask you share what you download.

- Priority of files
Files can be given priority from very low to release. Example: You share multiple files, and one of these files is new to the network. You can give this file a release priority, so users downloading this file will be able to proceed quickly through your upload queue to get it.

- QR Positions (Present in WinMX/eMule/eDonkey)
So you can see where you are in the queue to download. With eMule Plus, we have a QR progress indicator which shows you your progress through the queue since the last source check.

- Remote Control
You don't even have to be at your computer to operate your eMule. Utilizing Web Server, you can remotely control it on another computer through a simple browser application like Internet Explorer, as well as you can control it with your mobile phone (java support required) by means of MobileMule protocol.

- One file per user (Present in ED2K programs)
A user can only download one file from another user at at time. This is good as it helps speed up your queue progress. Consider this scenario: you want to download a file from user1, but user2 has queued up all or most of user1's files, so user1 has to upload to user2 first before proceeding to you. Also by doing this, users will be sharing parts for longer.

- Hashing
Each file that is shared has to be hashed at least once before it can be uploaded. Hashing is generating an ID of a file, each hash produced for that file is unique. When you click on a ed2k link, its really adding that hash to your list.
Even though you search using the filenames, the results will still show a filehash (column must be enabled). Results with identical filesizes and names can still be different from each other, filehash will show the different.

- Kademlia
Works are in progress to move eMule from using servers to serverless so problems regarding servers will be non-existent.

Don't expect the following from eMule/eMulePlus or other mods

Speed

Don't expect the same speeds you normally get with Bittorrent, Kazaa lite, or DirectConnect. Maximum download speeds for a single file is not possible. When starting out you need to be aware a single file may get dialup speeds (5KB), but will pick up if you are patient and set it correctly.

Guide to getting started...

1. Head on over here: click here.

2. There should be three types of files you can get. Installer/Binary and Sources file. If you're a beginner, just use the installer. If you have used eMule Plus before and just want to update eMule Plus use the binary. Sources won't be important if you don't know what it's for, so let's forget about it for now. This guide will direct you through the installer. Click the arrow below the installer, a page will appear with a list of the latest version, and the other previous versions.

3. Find the version you want and click the link for the installer program.

4. Choose a mirror location (a location physically nearest to you is usually faster). If link is dead, just try a different one.

5. Save a file to a location on your hard drive.

6. Double click installer and install it to your hard drive.

7. Now you have it installed, double click the eMule.exe file (or the mule looking file) and setup the preferences. Then connect to a server.

8. Check here for information about menus, preferences, etc.

9. Enjoy

10. It's recommended to update after a new version was released. Go back to the homepage, download the latest binary file instead of the installer, unpack it and copy all unpacked files to the directory eMule Plus was installed before (do not copy config\ipfilter.dat if you use your own ipfilter.dat; do not copy config\staticservers.dat if you use your own static servers list). Of course make sure eMule Plus is not running at that time. After that run eMule Plus again and configure any new settings.


Guide to a faster eMule

This is one of the most frequently asked questions on the board, and for some odd reason people never seem to use the mighty forum "search" feature, so here's a guide to improve download speeds. Some of these have already been covered in the FAQ/Help sections, but that too isn't checked, so I'm hoping this will be useful and will reduce the number of excessive posts.

Please note:
The following is a guide for a standalone computer setup. Those on lans or use routers will have to take other things into consideration too, but as I'm inexperienced with them I haven't provided any tips on them.

1. Do not upload at your maximum bandwidth
You need to get out a calculator or use your head for some brief calculations. Note Kb/kb/kbps is the same thing, but are not the same as KB (upper-case B ). For every KB there are 8Kb, so a connection that can upload at 128kb is (128/8) =16KB.
Set it to 80% of your maximum capability. For 128Kb upload, try 12-13KB (upload limit, not upload capability).
Reason for not setting it to maximum is because you need some bandwidth to send out data for the files you want, and to other users. Reducing this bandwidth prevents the flow of data getting out.

2. Obtain a High ID
If you have a high ID (the globe icon with green arrows in the status bar when connected to a server) then you have it. A high ID allows you to connect to more users directly. Enable 'Use smart LowID check on connect' in Preferences->Connection->Server as well. On a side note, a user who I was helping out with lowID problems (no router/lan, firewall, or any blocked ports) was getting constant lowID on his broadband connection. Here enabling safe connect seemed to make it work again to get a highID.

3. If upload capability = 10KB or greater?
If your connection can handle it, choose upload limit 10KB or higher. Setting it to 10KB will allow limitless download and remove dependency of the download limit on the upload limit. So this doesn't restrict you to certain download limits.

4. Download more than 1 file but no more than 30 files
If one file has 3KB average download speed, downloading of 30 files will give 90KB speed in total. Note that this is only an example and it doesn't necessarily mean that it will be exactly this way. I've rarely had more than 12 files actively downloading at a time. Try downloading 30 files and set paused downloads to start when a file becomes complete (just make sure to have enough space).
Too many simultaneously downloading files will cause you to be blacklisted by servers.

5. Share often, and share a lot
As you share you get credits for uploading to individual users. Eventually these users will have something you want, and will give you greater priority in their queues for it than someone with no credits or fewer credits. Try not to share more than 500, or the issue of being blacklisted comes into action.

6. More sources, quicker to get
Try to download a file that has the most sources. They are more likely to be downloaded quicker than those with few users sharing them. In general, they also tend to be more real than those with less sources... but if it happens to be fake, please don't share it anymore, get rid of it ASAP.

7. Max connections/sources per file/per 5 sec etc...
You want to have a value for these that are not too low or you won't be able to get enough sources, and not too high or you will generate too much overhead.
Max connections should ideally on broadband be 200-500. It is possible to have more, but it depends on how well your connection and computer can handle.
Sources per file 200-400. Anything more than 400 is usually overkill.
Per 5 sec - 10-50. If you find that your upload amount seems to be more than the limit, keep it low, but as I said before if it can cope a slightly higher value is better as it will connect quicker.

If your running a Windows 9x version, you will be limited to certain amounts of max connections (100 or less), any higher will cause instability and crash the program. Either reduce the number of connections or upgrade your OS to XP or 2000.

Please refer to Netwolf's explanation on connections:


8. Leave it on for more than a few minutes...
Don't expect to see results straight away.
One of the biggest misconceptions when first using eMule is that you will get speeds in comparison to that of Kazaa or BitTorrent. Since eMule works entirely in a different way to distribute files, it takes longer to download, usually leaving it on for a day or so is the best way.

9. Try sharing files you want to download
If you download the same type of files you share, you likely encounter clients who have uploaded from you, thus it will give you higher priority in their queues. Although it won't make a huge difference it might help.

10. Keep servers updated
Check the box for "Update serverlist when connecting to servers and clients" so that you don't have to constantly find a new server.met file to update as it will pretty much update it on its own. An up-to-date list of servers is important as you want to find all working servers to maximize sources.

11. Remove dead server after... retries
If you keep any dead servers in the list (servers which you fail to connect will be considered dead) the time to search through all the servers is going to be longer. Selecting this option stops eMule Plus searching or attempting to search on dead servers.

12. Enable source exchanging
An exchange of sources between other clients and you helps to find sources quicker and causes less server strain, but it may hog the bandwidth line (however its never been a problem, so just leave it on).

13. Ports unreachable
Sometimes your ISP may be blocking certain ports, changing it to a different value in preferences and restarting your eMule Plus might improve things. Some users believe even if ports are not blocked by your ISP, some work better than others. Try it if your not happy.

14. High Speed access
Not the most cost effective way to improve speed, but you will get a faster download than you would on dial-up. Not recommended option to go for unless you can really afford it.

15. eMule works best alone
If possible leave eMule to run by itself. Games (especially high intensive ones) can take a lot of memory and CPU away from eMule and can affect connections. In most cases fewer connections to sources occur or none at all. Regarding this area, any applications which use your Internet connection will also reduce the flow of data eMule needs. For example, I usually browse while I download. If my eMule reaches maximal speeds, and I continue browsing, some of my download and upload bandwidth will be needed, so my speeds will drop for my downloads.

eMule Netiquette

Commenting
Only comment on whether it is fake or not, quality of files (if it's high quality, good quality, ok quality, or poor quality), and anything that can be considered useful. Don't add "please release", "too slow to download", etc., it isn't big and it isn't smart.

Fake files
Rename them ASAP if there is relatively few sources, and add a comment telling what file it actually is and set it to very low priority to prevent uploading, or delete it. Additionally you might wanna mention it on a fake-file site, so others are aware.

Keep complete files
Share them as long as you can to allow others to get it too, so it stays alive.

Unsharing files
If your running out of space on your hard drive and want to move some files off to a different media, its ideal to move very popular files than rare ones. If it has taken you weeks to download that last chunk of a file, be nice and keep that complete file shared as much as possible (on release if you can).

Useful filenames
Adding information to the filename is a good way to inform users of quality (i.e. bitrate, format, etc.).
Good if you don't have much room in comments. Although don't make it too long, as it can be a problem when it comes to burning onto CD and DVD media.

Leave content as they are
Changing filenames is perfectly fine (with the exception of binary (.bin) and cue files). The content inside archived files should not be altered in anyway, as doing so will alter the file hash too, making you the only source for that file.

Don't use Leecher mods
Not only will these get banned by fair clients, but its also unfair to use them. Users spend time uploading files to you, return the favor to them.

Small files
eMule network works well with big files, so try not to share too many small files (anything less than 20MB)...cues, nfos, and subtitles are ok, but images, mp3s and text files aren't. Winrar or winzip can help archive them into a single package.

Regularly backup files
To avoid losing of your own data, as well as remote users credits. Remember clients.met stores their credits, so they will lose them all in case of the file corruption.

Enable messaging
I can't see why people would need to disable other people sending them messages. They can be a good way to know whether you are a sharer of a rare part or a complete file. 95% of the times I try and contact one of these users, it doesn't get through and after so long the download is terminated as users no longer share it. If you disabled it because others have spammed messages or you get persistently annoying users, just use the filter to stop messages with certain words appearing.

Use an antivirus program
eMule, like any other place you can get files, can be populated by virus infected files. Using an anti-virus on your computer is your own responsibility so don't complain when you download a file and it infects your computer. Get the files from index sites to add protection.

Thank the releasers, developers, betatesters, translators, moderators, administration, rippers, and helpful users
Self explanatory here =)

Show them the true power of P2P's by supporting the artists/company you like by going out and buying it. Thank you.


Why am I blacklisted? I've been banned, help!
Please read the FAQ/Common Questions and Answers. It is briefly summarised in there, but if you want background reading about blacklisting, read below:
More information regarding blacklisting


Sleepy's router guide v0.3

Router information, if you are using a router, Read this!
Basic information:
A router also functions as a firewall. With this knowledge, the following information will be a lot clearer.

A router mostly uses a NAT protocol, this protocol manages connections for each computer in the network.
When Computer 1 would connect to port 80 to a website, it usually uses port 80, but since Computer 2 on the network wants to connect to port 80 sometimes aswell they would bump into each other. And that is where the NAT Protocol comes in, it handles the connections. But because of this the outside port is always different. Since the router just picks a random port.
For websites and alike like that this is no problem, because you are the first to make a connection to them, and the website remembers the used port, so it knows to what port it must send it's packets(data) back for you to receive it.

Now comes eMule(Plus). eMule requires some different connections, a lot of clients connect from the outside to you without your router expecting it, so the router does not know to what computer on the network to send the packets and why they are coming, so it just ignores them.

But, there is a solution for this, it's called port mapping. It tells the router to send all packets received on a selected port to a certain computer inside the network. This can be handled inside the router.

The normal case is a web interface, read the router manual for information about how to reach it.

The ports need to be set in the router, But! there are a lot of different routers.

Some make a difference between outgoing and incoming connections and others just say outgoing is the same as incoming, so it has only one way to set it up. The incoming and outgoing difference is mostly only done within real firewalls. That means that most routers do not know this setting! Most routers just say incoming and outgoing connections are the same.

If you also have a setting (which is very rare!) for remote ports then set all ports to Any (this just tells the router from which port on the other computer it should expect the connections, this is not always the same, some users use other ports than the default.)

One minor last thingy, there are 2 different types of connections, TCP and UDP, Look closely at what type of port it is, because setting an UDP port to a TCP port is NOT good and will not allow eMule to connect properly.

eMule Plus chooses random client ports on the very first start (currently used ports can be found in Preferences->Connection->Connection):
xxxx TCP Incoming and Outgoing (connections from other clients)
xxxx UDP Incoming and Outgoing (exchanging sources and extended eMule protocol)

The following ports are only Outgoing connections in case you need them, if there are no settings for outgoing connections then just ignore these.
4661 TCP (server connection port)
4665 UDP (ask for sources on server)

And we have the webserver, if you want to be reachable from the outside world with your webserver you also have to forward a port for this (port forwarding is another word for port mapping).
The default port is 4711, but this can be customized in the webserver menu just like the other ports can be customized in the connections tab. Remember, when changing a port in the preferences menu of eMule also change the ports on your router!

For portmapping guides to different routermodels you can look here

The following is about how to set up eMule itself when using a router, this is important so do not ignore it.

Most routers use a 16 bit address code for calculating the connections, this results in a maximum amount of connections of 256, normally this would not be a problem. But when using eMule it can be a problem, since eMule usually requires as much connections as it can get.

The max connections can be set in the connection tab in the preferences menu, without a router this can be set to about 300 to 500 on a windows 2000/XP system (less than 90 on a windows 95/98/ME system because of the bad networking system in these versions).
A router uses a special chip to arrange connections, this chip has limitations!
When using a router you have to keep an eye on this, I advise setting this to around 200 and not very much higher because if the router has to many connections it can crash(will need a reboot then) or stop making new connections. This means no more web browsing or getting email and things like that because these connections can not be made by the router.

Most routers suffer from this problem.

Examples; Linksys routers, Alcatel routers (especially the 510i and the speedtouch PRO versions) Netgear routers, some cable modems even suffer from this problem.

When you set the max. connections lower, to 200 do not set max sources per file to high, otherwise it will keep looking for sources and forget to keep an eye on sources where you can download from. Set these to 400 when downloading 5 or less files, to 300 when downloading 5 to 12 files and with more then 12 files set it to 250 or even 200. These settings can be found in the Files tab in the preferences window.
eMulePlus is a very smart little mule, very uncommon for mules but it comes in handy, if you can get more sources than those that you already have emule will discard the useless sources slowly and let fresh sources in.

The last setting to set is the Max. connections per 5 seconds, routers with a faster processor(yes every router has it's own processor) can handle more connections per 5 seconds, I recommend setting this to 30. If you think your router can handle more, then gradually increase this value until you notice slower internet and failing to load web pages.


Extra FAQ [Frequently Asked Questions] non-eMule section
Here are some Questions/Answers that aren't in the main FAQ because they are not essentially eMule Plus related.

I would like to try another eMule program but with the credits I have built up so far what do I need?
You can do two things, either replace the eMule.exe file in the old eMule program folder with the new one, or create a new directory for the new eMule. Then copy & paste the userhash.dat/preferences.dat/cryptkey.dat/clients.met into the new eMule from the old one. There you go.
If you want to resume old eMule files through the new eMule, make sure to setup its temporary path to it.
And don't run both at the same time.

How secure is eMule. Will I be caught?
Your just as likely to be caught on eMule as you would on Kazaa, or any other p2p program. No p2p is truly secure.

Can I get viruses from eMule?
As you are sharing files between each other, there is no guarantee they won't be infected by viruses. It is your own responsibility to protect yourself, use common sense, and if possible use ED2K sites for additional security.

Posts/Threads solely on flaming either the ED2K network, eMule programs, or Members.
If you are posting threads just to complain, do not bother. They will be closed promptly and your account will be suspended. If it is regarding speeds, please read the tips above to improve them. We will accept feedback about eMule Plus, but only if it is constructive.
If you are still not happy please don't complain about something that is free and not forced upon you, change to a new p2p, or use one you already have.