eMule | eDonkey FAQ

[PiRaNeTuS]

Description:

eMule is an open source program for the eDonkey network. Unlike several programs, eDonkey does not have one central server. There are literally hundreds of servers out there, each of them run by another eDonkey user, wanting to help the network.

eDonkey is smart enough to tell the difference between two files, even if they have the same file size and name. This has two advantages, firstly it ensures that unique files are properly presented, and secondly, that when several identical files are found eDonkey can download from those independent sources at the same time, making your downloads faster! This unique file identification also allows you to create links to the files you have.

Some other features the network provides are:
- Share and Download any type of file.
- No central server. Servers can be located anywhere at any IP address.
- Search all users connected to the service no matter which server they are logged onto.
- Download a file from several different users at once.
- Downloads are automatically continued from session to session.
- User created collections. So you can be sure and get all files that belong together.
- Simultaneous uploading and downloading of the same file.
- Dynamic ports. The donkey can be configured to run over any port.

eDonkey also has a strong user community, with users from around the world participating in chats and forums.

eMule came onto the scene because eDonkey hadn't been updated in quite a while and was becoming outdated. (The reason for this is because the author created a new network and program called OverNet...more on that later.) eMule is open source meaning that anyone can download the source code and edit it any way that they wish.

This has caused quite a few "mods" to now surface and many options are now available to the end user. A mod is a modification of the basic eMule software. Mods generally contain bug fixes, enhancements to the user interface, as well as enhancements to the actual client so that it has more features. Of course, you don't have to use a mod. You can always use the official emule.

Getting Connected:

Generally eDonkey nor eMule connect automatically to servers. The newest versions of eMule do connect automatically, but you still must get a serverlist. A severlist is basically a list of all the servers 'live' at that moment so that you can connect to the network. It is important that you keep your serverlist updated. Most people recommend updating it at least every other day. A couple places you can find that have serverlists are: ocbMaurice and http://ed2k.has.it Once you get a serverlist, simply open up eDonkey or eMule and import the serverlist into it. The serverlist will most probably be a .met file. You can either download the file to your computer, or just type in the link to the file in eMule/eDonkey.

Once you are connected to a server, you are assigned an ID number. An ID number is simply a way to identify you. If you have an ID that is under the millions such as in the thousands or hundreds, you have a Low ID. A Low ID is not good. You can still upload and download with a Low ID, but not nearly as proficient. If you have a Low ID, you can go here for help.

Searching:

Even though users are connected to only one server, searching is fast and comprehensive. When you do a search, it is carried throughout the whole network and the most relevant results show up. But searching is not really what eDonkey was made for. The best advantage of the eDonkey network is the use of hashing files.

A hash is a way of uniquely identifying every single file on the network. That way, it is very hard to get any fakes. People then put links on websites that the user has to do is click on the link and it is automatically added to the download list (much like Sig2dat for Kazaa). So by going to one of these "file-indexing" sites, it is much more efficient than simply searching for the file you would like in the search window of eMule/eDonkey.

Once you get to a file-indexing site, such as ShareReactor, search on the site for the file you want. When you find the file, click on it and it will be automatically in your download list.

The Future?
The author of eDonkey recently created a new network called OverNet. OverNet works on much of the same principles as the eDonkey network, except that it is serverless. No servers is a safety precaution for it is harder for organizations like the RIAA and MPAA to shut it down.

Once OverNet was stable enough, the author then went back to eDonkey and updated it. Now eDonkey supports both the OverNet and eDonkey networks. eMule should also have support for OverNet soon; at present, it does not.

Last week saw another addition to the eDonkey network as well. Shareaza, the well known gnutella and G2 client, also incorporated the eDonkey network into its client. mlDonkey is another client that supports multiple networks, including eDonkey and OverNet. One word of caution though: many servers do not like mlDonkey and ban it upon the client connecting.

Links:

Other Clients:
mlDonkey
OverNet
Shareaza

eMule Mods:
PiRaNeTuS - My site also has alot of links to many indexing sites and more info about emule.

File Indexing Sites:
Sharereactor
FileNexus
ShareLive

Other Help:
eMule FAQ
eDonkey FAQ
eDonkey FAQ-2
Another eDonkey FAQ


(That's it for now. Mods, please sticky this. Thanks.....look for updates soon.)

[Sockfulloflove]

awesome job! :gj

[Winphuk]

Great job Piratenus!
I have been having some low ID problems, and now they are fixed!

[The Hunter]

Great job, and it has been stickied.

[grab]

excellent job piranetus, you make the complexities of ed2k so simple that i think even i understand them.

Sharereactor.com is definitely the best site for verified links, but there are a few other sites i have found useful.

musicdonkey.net
This is an excellent resource for full albums. There are hundreds of albums on this site, many of them ripped in high bit rate mp3, or even in lossless monkeys audio or FLAC.

musicdonkey.org
I dont know much about this site, but some people seem to like it.

ed2k-it
A newcomer on the ed2k scene, a friendly forum as well as lots of useful links.

FinReactor.com
A finish site which also has releases in English.

fucktheinter.net
I dont know much about this site, but they have a cool name and ed2k releases as well, apparently.

[Rickio]

Thanks PiRaNeTuS

Great job...

one more cool site to add is http://fileheaven.org

peace

[grab_grab_the_haddock]

Here are three more sites with links to verified files.

shareprovider.comA well laid out, visually attractive site which also seems very fast. Lots of porn for all you sex fiends.

ShareConnector.com

Doesnt look like anything special, seems to be a forum type affair with links to apps which were originally released on sharereactor.

mpc-donkey.de

A German site which has a large amount of full albums ripped in mpc. rememeber you will need a media player with mpc support to play these (e.g. foobar2000)

[p2pfaceless2000]

new site that has some ed2k link
and is looking for members
http://www.gerbilgenocide.co.uk/index.php

[Hell_Spawn]

we are a new ed2k site we just started it so come take a look :gj
Hell Spawn Inc.ED2K Portal

[birk]

This stickie needs to be update. Lots of things has happend to both eDonkey and eMule since it was last edited. Maybe some more links to eMule help would be nice. The link to the mods site is not working anymore.

[BASILBRUSHBOOMBOOM]

Have just opened a new ED2K site called Sharefox we are currently looking for new members :
www.Share-fox.com

Come along and have a look

SHAREFOX Click Sig Check us Out :icon_sunn

[davec8]

Don't spam your site in the faq thread. This isn't the place for it.

[Raven2]

www.ShareVirus.com has got to be one of the best ed2k filesharing sites around. A lot of links and a good community.

[GCypher]

we are more and less new, anyway i hope u all can make us a visit and help us to grow :icon_sunn

http://www.fairycake.net/seti_xfiles/index.php

[KLITETOOLS]

edit never mind.

just joined