Can anyone explain how Limewire decides to activate as a Leaf node or Ultrapeer? I prefer Ultrapeer and I used to be able to switch from leaf to ultrapeer by just disconnecting and reconnecting but eversince I upgraded to OSx Jaguar it just stays on a leaf node. How can I force it to connect as Ultrapeer? Any help would be appriciated.

Thanks,
Richard

Richard,
Can I reply to your question with my own question? I too would like to know how this leaf node vs. ultrapeer thing works!

Before you ask: Mac OS 10.1.5, LimeWire 2.7.9 Pro, Cable connection @ 3 MB

Everytime I have ever run LimeWire I have always been a leaf node. Today I started LimeWire and I guess I am an ultrapeer? I say this because that is what it says on the bottom of my Connections Screen and I am connected to numerous Hosts(maybe 60?), whereas before I was never connected to more than 4 !

I have not changed any settings or preferences. I am sharing 1 or 2 more files than I was before for a total of 16 shared files. Is leaf node vs. ultrapeer based on the number of files shared and I have gone over the magic number, or is it based on connection speed, or what?

Thanks, Steve

There have been numerous such posts with the same question, and it looks as though the concensus among we users (as we're not developers and don't know for sure) is that UPs are decided by upload success, files shared, connection speed, and processor ability.

. . .although there is almost certainly a statistical appraisal of each individual's quality of connection to Gnutella in terms of time spent connected, number of files shared and surplus bandwidth available, you miss the key point. My own experience with earlier versions of Limewire was that being an ultrapeer was a serious disadvantage in terms of general system performance. Now I freely admit that I have opted out of the default ultrapeer status since LW 2.9.9 and things may have improved since, but do not allow your social conscience to railroad you into ultrapeer mode until you are sure that the advantages outweigh the diadvantages.

I still occational get stuck on leaf but sometimes restarting the program and restarting my dsl modem allows me to connect as Ultrapeer. I've found it to be better since it allows alot!!!!! more connections and access to more data and files. I was blown away the first time that I saw the bar on top of my window say over 22,000 GB available. I used to think of a 250 GB external HD as being alot so its hard to wrap my mind around 22 ?terabytes?. I've also noticed better success at finding and downloading what I want as an Ultrapeer. I just hope that one of the future versions of Limewire will allow you to pick your connection protocol.
Hey, I have SBC dsl and yet I find that most of the stuff I try to download from Cable/DSL to T3 and up connections only download at 1kps to 54kps, does anyone know why?

Thanks,
Richard

You're not the only person they're uploading to. Most downloaders that are reliable (4 star) and have decent connections and more than a single connection. If you have 54 kbs to upload, and two people have it, it's 27 kbs, and so on and so forth.

In an asymetrical connection, the speed is set by the slower partner. So, if you are a T3 and you connect to a 56KB modem, your maximum download speed is 1KB/s regardless as to the number of other slots that modem may have. The number of slots simply determines the amount of bandwidth allocated to the upload function. Self evidently, if there are many people connected, there is little bandwidth available to be shared between the clients.

Later post script

Out of guilt, I decided to run another test as an ultrapeer using LW 2.9.11 and the performance was no different from the last using 2.9.9. I spent about 40 minutes watching the spinning wheel of death before Limewire crashed. My experience therefore continues to suggest that Mac users should stay as a leaf. Although I am tempted to try LW3.0.1 which I understand is now out. Hmmm. Perhaps, I'll go run another test.

Here's what I've figured out. I can determine whether I connect as a leaf or an ultrapeer by manipulating my preferences. I have a cable connection, which apparently is enough bandwidth to let me be an Ultrapeer if I want. If you have a cable connection or better and you want to connect as an Ultrapeer, go to Limewire Preferences and try this:
1. In the "Speed" preference, make sure "Disable Ultrapeer Capability" is not checked.
2. Under "Uploads/Basic" set upload bandwidth to 100%. (Depending on how much bandwidth you have, you may not need to go that high.)
3. Under "Uploads/Slots" make sure all three boxes have a number higher than zero. (Mine are set for 50 and 1 and 3. I think 1 and 1 and 1 would probably work.)
I don't think this will change how you're connected now, but the next time you fire up Limewire, I think you'll connect as an Ultrapeer. You'll have dozens of connections. Right now the top of my Limewire window says "...Sharing (6,444M files / 42,967 GB available)" and I've been connected for less than an hour. I am also uploading almost constantly. However, My wife will soon wake up and get on her computer and start complaining about her slow connection, because I'm over here using up all our bandwidth.

BUT THEN AGAIN...
About 5 hrs after posting the above info, I updated to 3.1, and now I'm a leaf again...

The latest version of limewire has done a lot to make it desirable to be an ultrapeer. They cranked down on the messages sent, and then compressed the ones that are sent. I think nobody should complain about being made an ultrapeer unless they have a slow processor.

I ala agree that you shouldn't be allowed to force yourself to be an ultrapeer. Underpowered ultrapeers are very bad for gnutella. Limewire is really good about only electing good nodes to be ultrapeers. If you really want to be one, then turn on limewire, give it a lot of bandwidth, and let it set. I believe one of the largest factors in becoming an ultrapeer is uptime. It's really important for ultrapeers to stay around.

Later,

Isamoor

P.S. I sincerely doubt limewire looks at how many files you are sharing for you to become an ultrapeer. That wouldn't make any sense. They want ultrapeers with open bandwidth to support communication. I bet that shared files doesn't even come into the picture.

I conclude that you must be a PC user because if you were a Mac user you would be reporting very poor performance from LW 3.0 even as a leaf. I had hoped that the "quantum leap" from 2.x to 3.0 would represent a significant improvement in performance. Ah, well, I suppose we should take vicarious satisfaction in seeing that the world's majority on PCs are even working well as ultrapeers.

PS Don't take any bets on your sincere doubts as to how LW determines which hosts should be ultrapeers.