Setup aMule native under Linux

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omgomg
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Joined: Sun Feb 19, 2023 3:59 pm

Setup aMule native under Linux

Post by omgomg »   3 likes

aMule can be installed in Linux from normal computer to Raspberry Pi.
aMule GUI is fine for any 64-bit capable computers since 2008 (4 GB ram and higher), including raspberry 4 with 4 GB or newer/higher.
aMule GUI-less is recommended for older computer with limited resources, including raspberry 3 and older.

Those who are interesting in to get Raspberry Pi: see spoiler below
Spoiler:

Raspberry Pi is a good choice for a low-powered computer to keep downloading/sharing without worrying about electricity bill. Please make sure download/upload both are limited to 1 mb/s for maximum stability - for adventurous users, feel free to experiment.

Raspberry Pi 3 and older - around 10 watt
Raspberry Pi 4 - around 15 watt
Raspberry Pi 5 and newer - Wattage increases as hardware gets beefer.

Recommendations:
* Get a proper power supply for Raspberry Pi
Raspberry Pi uses a bit higher voltage than phone (5.1 voltage raspberry pi vs 5 voltage phone).
Raspberry Pi can cope with charger for phone as long as not under high load.
Be careful - RAM / system memory is sensitive to unstable/under-powered and can possibly introduce to corruptions.

* Get a high endurance micro-SD
If your plan is to keep downloading for long time and/or adding new files to share frequently
It is okay to use cheap micro-SD, if you are sharing for most of the time. It might be a good idea to have another micro-SD ready for replacing.

* Have keyboard, mouse and screen ready for Raspberry Pi (including micro-HDMI for Raspberry Pi 4 and newer)
For installation and troubleshooting purpose

* Always choose 64 bit operation system (OS)
VNC (GUI remote administrative) is installed + configured readily and disabled until the user enables it
VNC = Windows version of Remote Desktop protocol (RDP)

* Make sure locale uses UTF-8

Raspberry icon as start menu --> Preferences --> Raspberry Pi Configuration --> Localisation (tab) --> Locale:
Click 'Set Locale'
Make sure Character set as 'UTF-8' - Language and Country are left to your choice

Failed to do will lead to aMule cannot move a completed download to Incoming because of unknown characters (outside English / USA)
Entry level
amule = Normal aMule GUI like under Apple or eMule in Windows

Advanced level
amuled = aMule runs in daemon (service) mode - a great choice for GUI-less server
amulecmd = To manage aMule in daemon mode via command-line (CLI)
amulegui = To manage aMule remotely - from your Linux (Windows/MAC?) computer to your GUI-less aMule server
amuleweb = Same as above with more restrictions (according to aMule Documentation, I haven't tested it)

Additional note: There are few limitations on amulegui - where client-side aMule cannot setup extra new shared directories on server-side aMule. It has to done on server-side and will be explained in separated post.

Within scope:
* Linux (Ubuntu-based) is already installed in computer / Raspberry Pi and is ready to use
* Normal aMule GUI (Entry level)

1. Install

Get the system up to date via two command lines below [Code] [Code] Reboot computer to use latest applied patch & software [Code] Now it is the time to install aMule [Code] 2. Open aMule

Variable ways to open aMule under Linux. Use the instinct, Luke.
Raspberry Pi: The raspberry icon as start menu --> Internet entry --> aMule

3. Configure aMule

Setup ED2k and KAD section

Open the 'Netorks' tab at the top as the picture shows below
Check if the link 'http://upd.mule-secuirty.org/server.met appears
Yes - click the little red marked button
No - paste the link and click the little red marked button

[Image]


Open the KAD tab as the picture shows below
Do the same as above with different link (http://upd.emule-security.org/nodes.dat

[Image]

Preferences at aMule section

Open the 'Preferences' tab at the top as the picture shows below
Select 'Connection'
Set a limit on download/upload as you see fit. 1000 / 1000 kB/s at both is fine for Raspberry Pi

[Image]

To avoid confusion about 'Slot Allocation' - So it is put under spoiler
Spoiler:

From my observation and understanding is that users have no control over 'Slot Allocation'. aMule honors the 'Bandwidth limits' with no question asked, but will keep dividing the 'Bandwidth limits' to several uploading slots as it can

Let's say that you have 50 files shared and 50 different users download them. aMule will give them 10 kB/s every. 500 kB/s upload limited divide with 50 different requestors = 10 kB/s

It seems the only way to somewhat "control" slot allocation is to share few files. Unless somebody knows excalty how it functions and share information about how to influence it.
Ports section

By default aMule will use like the picture shows above. Feel free to change them.
Please keep in mind that some ISP will thottle traffics with default ports.

'Bind local address to IP' can be ignored if the computer has only one connection to router to reach the internet. It might be relevant for users with VPN to lock aMule to VPN connection. (I haven't tested it mysel

Directories section

By default aMule is hidden in Linux user home. For Raspberry Pi users: Press ctrl + H to show the hidden folders.
aMule's location: /home/<your name>/.aMule

Configuration and data of aMule is best left as default.
Users can change locations of incomplete and completed data to other locations as the picture shows below

[Image]

To move these folders completely outside of home - require a knowledgeable Linux user regarding permission.
Non-issue: /home/<your name>/<whatever you pick>
Possibly issue: Anything outside of /home/<your name>

4. Status of aMule

Check your connection status at bottom right of aMule window

[Image]

Green = High-ID
Ports of aMule and your port forwarding at router setting are matched - not blocked by ISP on different ways and it will be explained in separated post.

Yellow = Low-ID

You can still download from High-ID users.
High-ID users can download from you.

My condolences to you and Low-ID users try to connect each other.

It could be several reasons:
* Your router is not configured for port forwarding
* Your router and aMule port settings are mismatched
* Your internet access behind ISP GC-NAT (Cheap way to stay out-dated solution - I will explain in layman's term in separated post)

Red = not connected

It could be for several reasons:
* Connect your computer to your home network?
* Your aMule is unable to download list of ED2k Servers for some reasons.
* Blocked by firewall at your home or ISP level.

5. Try it out

By inserting an ED2k link on eD2k link section at bottom of aMule Window.

[Image]

For Low-ID users: Please note that you depend on High-ID users to get them.
Last edited by omgomg on Mon Jul 07, 2025 4:40 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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