Maximizing upload/download Success LimeWire

Objective:

I'm starting this thread to address two common problems which seem to appear over and over again in the forums.

General description of the problem:

1. Problems downloading content
2. Low upload count


With the influx of users to peer to peer networking and specifically New LimeWire users many of which I assume are also new broadband users there are several issues that arise out of a general lack of knowledge in what is required to participate in this type of networking model with moderate success. There are a few things that become self evident if you've spent any time on the Gnutella network and these forums.

1. Posts to the forum that don't adequately describe the problem. (for example, I can't connect.) -

The status of these problems would have a higher probability of receiving useful feedback if users provided some basic information such as; machine, operating system, connection speed, location of connection I.E. School work or home.

For example: I'm new to Limewire- I just downloaded limewire and installed it on a Windows 98 Machine with a T1 connection to the network from school. I don't have a firewall installed on my computer and don't know if there is one here but I cannot seem to connect using limewire. My other application i'e web browsers and email work fine. Can anybody tell me what's wrong?


2. Posts to the forum for issues that have been addressed in the FAQs suggests that people are not reading them.

3. Posts to forum for issues that have been addressed in other threads this also suggests that people are not even reading the threads before they post.
4. Post to areas of the forum that are not necessarily dedicated to the issues being raised. Connection Problems in the Open Discussion Forum. MAC issues in the Open Forum.

5. Finally, posts to the forum that have nothing to do with file sharing.


Now, for the problems people are having with uploading / downloading, Consider the following suggestions:


To maximize your ability to download successfully do the following things:

1. Go to tools/options/searching/Quality (show all four star results)

This will effectively filter out all of the people who are behind firewalls or have other connection issues, this will greatly reduce your frustration in downloading.

I should note however, that this could significantly reduce the amount of content you see, as most of the content being shared on the network is being shared from hosts which are poorly configured for sharing and you would probably have problems downloading from them anyway.


2. Go to tools/options/searching/speed (show all speeds)

I make this suggestion because if you are already filtering by Quality, filtering by speed will further reduce your results. If there 20 people on modem connections that have the content you want why not download from them.

3. Go to tools/options/filters/hosts under the disallow all messages from specific hosts add the following IPs: 192.168.*.* AND 10.*.*.*

I make this suggestion to filter out all the host who have incorrectly forwarded their private IP address on the network. These IP addresses are NOT routable and you will NOT be able to connect and download content from these hosts so ignore results from these guys. if

4. Go to tools/options/filters/keywords Filter out search results containing !!!

Most likely viruses or porn files emulating your search queries.


Now on to problems with uploading. If you are experiencing problems with people up loading from your computer the suggestions I made in and maximizing your ability to download see 1 through 4 above.) your machine could be one of these hosts.

I'll start with some general suggestions:

1. Make sure that you are not sharing from a work or school location as peer to peer traffic tends to be administratively prohibited. although it may not be explicitly blocked they could be applying quality of service rules to your traffic.

2. If you are sharing from home - leave your machine on for at least 4 hours (you can't expect people to download from you if you jump on the network do some searches and then disconnect.)

3. Finally, if you are using NAT (meaning that the IP address of your machine is 10.x.x.x or 192.x.x.x ) now, might be able to connect, search and download from the network but no one will be able to upload from you. If you have taken the advise of others to force your IP using limewire then your half way there, as your port forwarding is working correctly. But, you need to FORCE THE IP OF YOUR ROUTER or FIREWALL to the network. To find out what your ip is from the machine that you use to get on Gnutella open a web browser to http://www.whatismyip.com
(write this IP down and force this IP in Limewire) If you need help testing this Just post a reply to this thread.

By implementing these suggestions you will have better luck downloading and uploading on Gnutella.

__________________
Lee Evans, President
LeeWare Development
http://www.leeware.com

Julie, Thanks for your support!

You betcha!

And thank you for all of your insightful information!

This is several questions at once, and some may need to be elsewhere in the forums. But most are basic questions that I did not find answered elsewhere, (yes I did much searching and reading), only to find that the questions addressed were never answered because the (below) information was not entered. Anyway:

1st question; On the Logging page it list "upload started", it never list completed. But on the Monitor page it shows the progress bar and it times out normal looking. And on the library page under uploads it shows 1/1, 2/2 etc. ARE these uploads working properly? I see in the forum that the 1/1 etc. Is a good indication that is is.

2nd question; As you can see below, my upload speed is decent, but again on the monitor page, (and on the bottom of Limewire), it shows an average of 27KBs for one download and an average of 25KBs each for two, (haven't seen three at a time yet), under Tools>Options>Upload = max. Bandwidth allowed. IS this a sharing feature split between the three ultrapeers? Or is something else slowing down the uploads?

3rd question; Under Tools>Options>'Speed' I clicked "Broadband" but on the Search>View my 2272 shared files, it post the speed as 'Dial-up'. I have no problem searching, so under Tools>Options>Searching = 'All Qualities' is checked. Is this a function of this or does Limewire think I have Dial-up?

4th question; Under 'Library' of shared files, it list "Locations" as 0 for everything. But when I do a search, it finds hundreds. I seem to get 1000s of hits on each file, (understanding most are just good keywords), so it is at least at some number of locations, not zero. Or do I have my settings messed up? (Remember, most Options are still at default).

5th question; How can I get more than three connections, (ultrapeers), less going to pro? I have read some hacker solutions, I am not too excited about. And I have no problems with download speeds, and read that speeds don't really increase with pro anyway. The only real solution I found is moving down the tree. (I am still listed as a "Leaf").

Thank you one and all in advance for any answers.
Below is my setup information.

HP Compaq Presario SR1901WM
AMD Anthon 64X2 Dual Core Processor 4400+
2.20GHz, 2.18GB Ram
Windows XP Home, (build 2002), SP2
160GB HD, but use 80GB HD for file share location, (used ~10GB).
Norton Internet Security 2006, ver. 9.1.1.7
Norton Anti-virus, ver.12.8.0.4
Windows firewall - OFF, (but Limewire 'excepted')
Norton firewall - Limewire 'excepted'
UPnP - enabled
Network = Intel 21143-based PCI fast ethernet adapter - packet schedular miniport
Mediacom 15Mbps/1Mbps - standard modem
North Carolina ISP
Router = LinkSys wireless-G, (model #: wrt54g)
Speed Test - Last Result: (via Speakeasy.com)
Download Speed: 14458 kbps (1807.3 KB/sec transfer rate)
Upload Speed: 922 kbps (115.3 KB/sec transfer rate)

EDIT: This is a home network with three wired and one wireless desktop and occassionaly a wireless laptop. (Mine is wired). But these speeds are the same with or without the other computers turned on.

LimeWire 4.16.7, Java 1.6.0_05
Tools>Options = "Default" except file share location
Connection = very strong, (five bars)
Firewall = detected, (little earth with a brick wall).
2200+ files to share, (1100 songs x two formats, wma & mp3)
1000s of hits average per file
100s listed uploads per day average? (see above question #1).
Online approx. 23 hours a day, usually only disconnect for repairs/updates etc.

I don't believe I am having any problems, and maybe everything is normal. I would just like someone else to confirm it is all ok & normal.

But let me add another question;

My shared files are on a spare HD, with the folder, "My Music", with sub-folders of the "Artist Name(s)", then sub-folder of the "Album(s)", then "Song file". Limewire is also on that HD, (not shared).

Does it help in the search to have it that way? Because I know when I search, I don't always know the exact song name, or the album title, or even the artist name. [always enough to search]

When I do a search of my shared files, (the same name shared files, not search my files), my files never come up on the search. Apparently some of it works, (see question #1 above), but does this slow down the search process?

I need to know this before I continue sharing files/songs. I have another 20,000+ songs to put up and it would suck to have to go through them all and change my settings.

So come to find out, the so called administrator is nothing more than a twelve year old pretending they are more. So far the only answer I have seen was, "you need to input more info".

When may I ask will you ever answer a question?

I have read through many threads only to come to one conclusion. You do not have the answer. But power to you, you convince people to pay for no answers.....

I want your job, getting paid for nothing.

Which administrator are you referring to? There are 2 admins here. One doesn't answer questions on the forum but does his work behind the scenes, the other answers heaps of questions on the forum, plus doing work behind the scenes.

We are all volunteers here & nobody gets paid.

So do some research before shooting your mouth off.

I have tried to post twice before, but if they did not post. YOU you ***, an answer to your question, or so called answer..... I think I asked an honest question, three or four above, but not a peep from you before. Answer the question, then act like you know something.

QtrTillDawn

Re: #5 above, I use LW Pro behind a firewall and my Connections show 5 Ultrapeers. If you don't want to attempt the hacks, go with Pro.

By the way, I am not 12.
Like everyone here, I am not paid for this. So you can have my job.
If you don't like the free help, don't ask for it.