Several years ago when I first tried file sharing with various clients, I would be connected to very large numbers of other computers.

I recently installed LW to give it another try. The Connections tab always shows exactly 3 hosts (and not always the same hosts). Is this bad? Why does it do this? How do I force it to use more hosts? I tried adding more hosts but they disappear after I press "Add". Also, Statistics shows roughly 142 "total hosts" now, and only 45,000 files... this doesn't seem like very many to me. I have broadband (and told LW this) and left LW running for hours and days at a time to give it a chance to "warm up".

I'm sometimes able to download, and not one upload has happened, even though I on purposely put files there with names that would be "tempting" just to see if someone would get it. But no bites.

I'd still like to know why there are just 3 when I'm a leaf.

But I did figure out that when I click "Force IP", I then became an ultrapeer and now see tons of connections, and the statistic's file count is about 1.4 million right now. As you'd expect, Search is now working MUCH better.

Now I just gotta go read up on what this Force IP is actually doing... not quite sure why it is necessary since I opened up port 6346 in the cable/dsl router (without that open, I could still download but it would not let me "browse host" on myself even).

Damn, someone with the very same problem!!!
So it was pretty useful to first search the forums.

I can't get more than 3 hosts either. This is really p*ssing me off!
BEFORE I complain, I usually read FAQs and guides.

And now do read that guide!!

It looks as if the LimeWire team has decided to allow not more than 3 hosts if you're a Leaf Node.
If so, I'd plead for an IMMEDIATE change of the guide!
Because this is tricking people into thinking that this actually works (which it does not for leaf nodes, tried it a million times).

http://www.limewire.com/english/cont...nections.shtml

[b]"If you are a leaf node, you will only see 3 Ultrapeer connections by default. However, you can increase the connections and increase search result success. You can change how many connections you can have up at once by increasing the number (no more than 6) in the input field on the bottom"[b]

This is a freaking pack of lies!

I will try to downgrade a few versions, maybe it was intentionally removed with some later versions.
Grrrrrrrrrr....

I think at least since LW 4 or 4.2 there's been a set no. of peers for basic users of LW to three (3). For LW Pro users that's 5.

You can downgrade if you like & be automatically banned by some p2p apps. There's a pracitical reason why it's been done. For the health of the G network so more people can connect.

You can check the LW version history here: http://www.limewire.com/english/cont..._history.shtml

Unfotunately the FAQ on the LW site is a little out of date for the newer versions due to frequent changes. I put in a request for it to be updated myself but there's a shortage of staff to deal with this immediately. There's a Java programming position available at LW if anybody is interested & has the necessary prerequisites

Oh you piece of gold!
Finally someone giving some insight into this enigma!
And even a super moderator, which means that you know what you're talking about!
Thanks! Might help dozens and dozens of people always asking the same question.

Well I was about to think that it must have been some intentional limitation.
Unfortunately now, the 'Add' button is indeed worthless!
You can add and add, but the host will always disappear as Bailit said! So better just remove it entirely, as you will anyway be reconnected if you remove one of the hosts.

Well ... you're saying "banned by some p2p apps"?
OK, but it might be that way, I can get more search results from Limewire users which I otherwise would never be able to spot!
So it might be a good idea to have an older version of LW handy to get more hosts! I will try this!! *DROOOOL*

Lastly ... about the statistics...

I can see "Hosts : 133" now.
Is this REALLY ONLY 133 machines connected to this network or am I asking a kind of naïve question?

Me again...

I think I was just tricked into thinking the wrong way by the outdated FAQ.

Now connected to 30 hosts!!!
All rises and falls with you being an Ultrapeer!
If you disable the Ultrapeer function in the options, you will be a leaf node and won't have any chance to get beyond 3!

Looks like LW team wants to *promote* Ultrapeers
(to ensure that people don't just "adhere" to hosts which have to bear all the load )