Maximizing Shareaza Results

If you like to use the ed2k network, this article aims to help you maximize your results. I have also included some information about Gnutella/Gnutella2. If you have anything you want added, post here

ed2k(eDonkey) Setup

The eDonkey network (also known as the eDonkey2000 network or simply ed2k) is a decentralized, mostly server-based, peer-to-peer file sharing network best suited to share big files among users, and to provide long term availability of said files.

The key to ed2k is the Server list. Without good servers, you will be lucky to get any results at all.

Server.met

The server.met file is the file that contains all the information about the ed2k servers. You can either import the file after downloading it or download it directly into shareaza. This section explains how to do both.

Downloading server.met directly to Shareaza(VIA Host Cache Window) What you will need for this is an URL to the server.met file. If you want, you can search google for server.met files. I have provided a couple links to websites for getting this file.

http://peerates.net/servers.php(RECOMMENDED)
http://ed2k.2x4u.de †
http://elboiler.p2pforum.it/server.met.gz
http://www.emule-mods.de/?servermet=show
† - Link contains pornographic advertisements(Use Adblock Plus for Firefox, right click on them and "Adblock Plus Image" to get rid of them)

Once you have the link you want to use, go into Shareaza and press F8. This will open the Host Cache window. When you are in the Host Cache Window, Right Click and select Download MET.... Simply paste the URL into the box and download. You will then have a list of servers.

Downloading server.met directly to Shareaza(VIA Shareaza Settings Window)

First you will need to enable "Power Mode". Go to View > Power Mode. Go to Tools > Shareaza Settings... > Networks > eDonkey Click "Download MET" and put the URL in the dialog box.

Import a Downloaded server.met file

In the case that you download a server.met file in an archive and do not wish to upload it to the web just to use it, you can simply use a method similar to the first "Downloading server.met directly to shareaza" method.

Go into Shareaza and press F8. This will open the Host Cache window. When you are in the Host Cache Window, Right Click and select Import MET file.... Browse to where you saved the server.met file and open. You will then have a list of servers.

Configuring the eDonkey Network

To do this, you will need to enable Power Mode. In case you didn't do it already, go to View > Power Mode.

Now that power mode is enabled, you can go to Tools > Shareaza Settings... > Networks > eDonkey.

Unchecked:
Receive and update server list from connected servers.

Checked:
Always Connect to eDonkey
Connect to eDonkey today
Search known remote servers in the server cache

You can customize how many search results you want before it stops searching, that part is all user-preference.

Gnutella(2) Tips

If you have anything you would like added here, let me know via the link to the forum topic above.

First of all, Press F9 to enter the "Discovery Services" window. You can right click to Query a webcache or bootstrap. Quite often, querying a GWebCache will add more to your list of G2 Caches.

If you do not have any GWebCaches listed for whatever reason, you can go to http://gcachescan.jonatkins.com/ and copy one of the WebCache links. Then you go into the Discovery Services, right click and click "Add Service." Paste the link into GWebCache and click OK. Now Right click on this GWebCache listed and click "Query".

**Please note that you shouldnt need to query more than one, and even then it should only be done when you have no cache. Abusing the query can overload webcaches, resulting in problems for everyone**