Difference between revisions of "Migrate from eMule to aMule"

From AMule Project FAQ
Jump to: navigation, search
 
(27 intermediate revisions by 15 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
Here you'll find some tips about the migration of configuration &amp; [[download]] [[file]]s from [[eMule]] to [[aMule]].</p>
+
<center>
 +
'''English''' |
 +
[[Migrate from eMule to aMule-tw|正體中文]] |
 +
[[Migrate from eMule to aMule-es|Espa&ntilde;ol]]
 +
</center>
  
== Brief story ==
 
  
[[eDonkey2000]] was born some years ago and its great protocol, [[FAQ_ed2k|ed2k]] takes itself into the Olympo of file [[share|sharing]] programs.
+
Here you'll find some tips about the migration of configuration &amp; [[download]] [[file]]s from [[eMule]] to [[aMule]].
  
Some coders, unsatisfied by that [[client]], started developing a new one, called [[eMule]]. Its source code was open, so anyone (able...) can read it and modify it, and so was. Many client versions came up with patches and new code. Fastly, the [[eDonkey2000]] guys starts arguing against [[eMule]], blaming that the [[P2P]] [[network]] goes constantly slower due to the large number of [[eMule]] clients. After an initial study phase, [[eMule]] developers decided to create a new p2p network leaving [[eDonkey2000]] network alone. It was a success.
+
== Brief History ==
 +
[[eDonkey2000]] was born some years ago and its great protocol, [[FAQ_eD2k-Kademlia|ed2k]] became the Olympian of file [[share|sharing]] programs.
  
The [http://www.kernel.org Linux] community started developing a [http://www.kernel.org Linux] client able to connect to [[eMule]]'s network: [[lMule]] was born. A multi p2p network program, [[mlDonkey]] added support to [[eMule]]'s network; later [[lMule]] was renamed to [[xMule]]. But the winner is yet to come...
+
Some coders, unsatisfied by that [[client]], started developing a new one, called [[eMule]]. Its source code was open, so anyone able to program could read it and modify it, and so they did. Many client versions came up with patches and new code. Soon the [[eDonkey2000]] guys started criticising [[eMule]], blaming constant slowdowns in the [[P2P]] [[network]] on the large number of [[eMule]] clients. After an initial study phase, [[eMule]] developers decided to create a new p2p network leaving [[eDonkey2000]] network alone. It was a success.
  
[[xMule]] got a few coders but a project started rumping up: try to port the changes from [[eMule]] to a [http://www.kernel.org Linux] client: [[aMule]] was born. This fastly became the de facto standard enkey client for [http://www.kernel.org Linux].
+
The [http://www.kernel.org Linux] community started developing a [http://www.kernel.org Linux] client able to connect to [[eMule]]'s network: [[lMule]] was born. A multi p2p network program, [[mlDonkey]] added support to [[eMule]]'s network; later [[lMule]] was renamed to [[xMule]]. But the winner is yet to come.
  
[[eDonkey2000]] is now almost dead, and wants even to be payed for a professional version of its client...
+
[[xMule]] got a few coders but a project started ramping up: try to port the changes from [[eMule]] to a [http://www.kernel.org Linux] client: [[aMule]] was born. This quickly became the de facto standard "donkey" client for [http://www.kernel.org Linux].
 +
 
 +
[[eDonkey2000]] is now almost dead, and even charges for a professional version of its client.
  
 
== Migration ==
 
== Migration ==
 
+
Searching around the web you will find a lot of people saying the migration is easy: do not believe them! ;) Or better, it's easy because the temporary file format is compatible, but if we are talking about configuration files, then things are different.
Searching around the web you will find a lot of people saying the migration is easy: do not believe them! ;) Or better, it's easy because temporary file format is compatible, but if we are talking about configurations files, then things change.
+
  
 
Follow my notes below about the migration from [[eMule]] to [[aMule]] of all my downloads.
 
Follow my notes below about the migration from [[eMule]] to [[aMule]] of all my downloads.
  
 
== Configuration Files ==
 
== Configuration Files ==
 
 
There are two important parts in [[eMule]]: the configuration files and temp/shared files. Let's start with configuration files.
 
There are two important parts in [[eMule]]: the configuration files and temp/shared files. Let's start with configuration files.
  
In [[eMule]], these files are store under ''config'' directory. In [[aMule]], instead, the configuration files are store under ''~/.aMule'' directory. So the easy step is to copy the files from the [[eMule]]'s configuration directory to [[aMule]]'s. Good, so let's look further...
+
In [[eMule]], these files are stored under ''config'' directory. In [[aMule]], instead, the configuration files are stored under ''~/.aMule'' directory (Linux) or in the ''~/Library/Application Support/aMule'' directory (Mac), or, for example in the ''C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Application Data\aMule'' directory in Windows. So the easy step is to copy the files from the [[eMule]]'s configuration directory to [[aMule]]'s. Good, so let's look further...
  
 
=== Configuration Files Automatically Imported ===
 
=== Configuration Files Automatically Imported ===
 +
Many files are read and correctly imported into [[aMule]]; among them there are:
  
Many files are read and correctly imported into [[aMule]]; aong them there are:
+
*''[[clients.met_file|clients.met]]'', stores the other clients [[FAQ_eD2k-Kademlia#What_is_all_this_talk_about_credits,_ratings_and_scoring_about?|credits]]. When you download some from a client, you'll store in this file how much you have got, so you can promote that client when it will be in your [[upload]] [[queue]].
 
+
*''[[clients.met_file|clients.met]]'', stores the other clients [[FAQ_ed2k#What_is_all_this_talk_about_credits,_ratings_and_scoring_about?|credits]]. When you download some from a client, you'll store in this file how much you have got, so you can promote that client when it will be in your [[upload]] [[queue]].
+
 
*''[[known.met_file|known.met]]'', it's where details about the downloaded files are stored, the ones printed in green when [[search]]ed again.
 
*''[[known.met_file|known.met]]'', it's where details about the downloaded files are stored, the ones printed in green when [[search]]ed again.
 
*''[[known2.met_file|known2.met]]'', it's where [[AICH]] hashes of shared files are stored.
 
*''[[known2.met_file|known2.met]]'', it's where [[AICH]] hashes of shared files are stored.
 
*''[[server.met_file|server.met]]'' and [[staticservers.dat_file|staticservers.dat]], it contains the saved [[eMule]] [[server]]s.
 
*''[[server.met_file|server.met]]'' and [[staticservers.dat_file|staticservers.dat]], it contains the saved [[eMule]] [[server]]s.
*''[[ipfilter.dat_file|ipfilter.dat]]'' and ''ipfilter_static.dat'', which contain the [[IP]] denied to [[connect]]/share files with you.
+
*''[[ipfilter.dat_file|ipfilter.dat]]'' and ''ipfilter_static.dat'', which contain the [[IP address|IP]] denied to [[connect]]/share files with you.
 
*''[[emfriends.met_file|emfriends.met]]'', it contains the [[friend]]s list.
 
*''[[emfriends.met_file|emfriends.met]]'', it contains the [[friend]]s list.
*''[[cryptkey.dat_file|cryptkey.dat]]'' and ''preferences.dat'', they uniquely identify you for other clients, so you can keep credits to their side.
+
*''[[addresses.dat file|addresses.dat]]'' contains a list of URLs from where [[aMule]] will download server.met files to merge with its current server.met file.
*Other files: ''key_index.dat'', ''load_index.dat'', ''nodes.dat'', ''preferencesKad.dat'', ''shareddir.dat'', ''src_index.dat'': '''TODO:''' I don't know what's written inside, but I think some are [[Kademlia]] related (but they were written running [[aMule]], so I suppose they are used...).
+
*''[[cryptkey.dat_file|cryptkey.dat]]'' and ''[[preferences.dat_file|preferences.dat]]'', they uniquely identify you to other clients, so you can keep credits to their side.
 +
*''[[key_index.dat file|key_index.dat]]'', ''[[load_index.dat file|load_index.dat]]'', ''[[nodes.dat file|nodes.dat]]'', ''[[preferencesKad.dat file|preferencesKad.dat]]'' and ''[[src_index.dat file|src_index.dat]]'' are [[Kademlia]] files.
 +
*''[[shareddir.dat file|shareddir.dat]]'' paths of shared directories, but it is only compatible with [[eMule]] when using [[aMule]] '''for [http://www.microsoft.com/windows Windows]'''.
  
These were the good news. The bad ones still have to come...
+
That's the good news. The bad is still to come...
  
 
=== Configuration Files NOT Automatically Imported ===
 
=== Configuration Files NOT Automatically Imported ===
 
 
Here starts the "war bulletin":
 
Here starts the "war bulletin":
  
 
*Configuration file: [[eMule]] uses ''preferences.ini'' but [[aMule]] uses ''[[amule.conf_file|amule.conf]]''.
 
*Configuration file: [[eMule]] uses ''preferences.ini'' but [[aMule]] uses ''[[amule.conf_file|amule.conf]]''.
 
*[[Category|Categories]]: They are the tabs separating files in the download list; in [[eMule]] they are written in the file ''Category.ini'' but [[aMule]] writes them down into ''amule.conf''.
 
*[[Category|Categories]]: They are the tabs separating files in the download list; in [[eMule]] they are written in the file ''Category.ini'' but [[aMule]] writes them down into ''amule.conf''.
*Some files in [[eMule]]'s config directory are not used by [[aMule]]: ''AC_BootstrapIPs.dat'', ''AC_IPFilterUpdateURLs.dat'', ''AC_SearchStrings.dat'', ''AC_ServerMetURLs.dat'', ''adresses.dat'', ''fileinfo.ini'', ''k_index.dat'', ''preferencesK.dat'', ''s_index.dat'', ''statistics.ini'' and ''webservices.dat''. I don't know their function under [[eMule]] and maybe some of the above files come from old [[eMule]] installations and now they're not used anymore, not even by [[eMule]].
+
*[[eMule]]'s ''[[shareddir.dat file]]'' is not compatible with [[aMule]] when switching to any [[aMule]] not running in [http://www.microsoft.com/windows Windows], since paths are so different. In this case, [[aMule]] will automatically generate this file once you set in ''Preferences'' the directories you want to share.
 +
*Some files in [[eMule]]'s config directory are not used by [[aMule]]: ''AC_BootstrapIPs.dat'', ''AC_IPFilterUpdateURLs.dat'', ''AC_SearchStrings.dat'', ''AC_ServerMetURLs.dat'', ''fileinfo.ini'', ''k_index.dat'', ''preferencesK.dat'', ''s_index.dat'', ''statistics.ini'' and ''webservices.dat''. Most of the above files come from old [[eMule]] installations and are now deprecated.
  
Further you'll find how I've imported the missing configurations.
+
Below you'll find how I imported the missing configurations.
  
 
== Importing Missing Configurations ==
 
== Importing Missing Configurations ==
 
 
We have just said that some configurations are not automatically loaded into [[aMule]] from [[eMule]]; try to find out what we can do to import those data into [[aMule]].
 
We have just said that some configurations are not automatically loaded into [[aMule]] from [[eMule]]; try to find out what we can do to import those data into [[aMule]].
  
 
=== Importing Categories ===
 
=== Importing Categories ===
 
 
This command line should help you generate the categories information from [[eMule]]'s ''Category.ini'' file (put the command on the same line):
 
This command line should help you generate the categories information from [[eMule]]'s ''Category.ini'' file (put the command on the same line):
  
  grep -E ^\[Cat|^Title|^Incoming|^Comment|^Color|^a4afPriority" Category.ini | sed 1,6d | sed 's/#/\\#/g' | sed 's/&amp;/\\&amp;/g' | sed 's/a4afPriority/Priority/g'
+
  grep -E "^\[Cat|^Title|^Incoming|^Comment|^Color|^a4afPriority" Category.ini | sed 1,6d | sed 's/#/\\#/g' | sed 's/&amp;/\\&amp;/g' | sed 's/a4afPriority/Priority/g'
  
 
This escapes even ''#'' and ''&amp;'' characters, because I've got them in my ''Category.ini'' file; maybe there will be other chars to be escaped that have to be included in the script (edit this article, if it is the case). The script deletes the first 6 rows, that is the first category, since it's a dummy one: that category is the first one in [[eMule]], which contains all/uncategorized/etc files; [[aMule]] has its "all" tab and do not need this entry. Cut&amp;paste the script's result into ''amule.conf''.
 
This escapes even ''#'' and ''&amp;'' characters, because I've got them in my ''Category.ini'' file; maybe there will be other chars to be escaped that have to be included in the script (edit this article, if it is the case). The script deletes the first 6 rows, that is the first category, since it's a dummy one: that category is the first one in [[eMule]], which contains all/uncategorized/etc files; [[aMule]] has its "all" tab and do not need this entry. Cut&amp;paste the script's result into ''amule.conf''.
Line 64: Line 67:
 
Under ''[General]'' in ''amule.conf'', you have to define a variable ''count'' (or change its value if already defined) with value:
 
Under ''[General]'' in ''amule.conf'', you have to define a variable ''count'' (or change its value if already defined) with value:
  
echo `grep -c "^\[Cat" Category.ini` -1 | bc
+
echo `grep -c "^\[Cat" Category.ini` -1 | bc
  
 
This variable holds the number of tabs to display: note that even if you have  
 
This variable holds the number of tabs to display: note that even if you have  
Line 87: Line 90:
 
  ...
 
  ...
  
'''Note:''' I don't know if importing the categories before importing the temp files, they will be classified as in [[eMule]]; I've imported temp files before the categories, but I don't think they will be placed in the tabs as they were in [[eMule]] (if someone can confirm this...).
+
'''Note:''' If you import the categories '''before''' importing the temp files, they will be classified as in [[eMule]].
  
 
=== Importing Statistics ===
 
=== Importing Statistics ===
 
 
[[eMule]]'s statistics are available in two different files: ''preferences.ini''
 
[[eMule]]'s statistics are available in two different files: ''preferences.ini''
 
and ''statistics.ini''. I found statistics in the latter file more up-to-date than the ones in the former file.
 
and ''statistics.ini''. I found statistics in the latter file more up-to-date than the ones in the former file.
  
Looking into ''statistics.ini'' you'll find that all statistics are under ''Statistics]'' tag. Even inside ''amule.conf'' there exists this tag, so the logic conclusion is to copy from span ''statistics.ini'' to ''amule.conf''. In this last file, there are two keys, ''MaxClientVersions'' and ''DesktopMode'', that should not be deleted ('''TODO:''' I don't know what they mean, so leave them where they are...).
+
Looking into ''statistics.ini'' you'll find that all statistics are under ''Statistics'' tag. Even inside ''amule.conf'' there exists this tag, so the logic conclusion is to copy from span ''statistics.ini'' to ''amule.conf''. In this last file, there are two keys, ''MaxClientVersions'' and ''DesktopMode'', that should not be deleted.
  
'''Note:''' Sadly, very few values get imported: seems only downloaded and uploaded bytes. Maybe it's not the right place where I've written those keys, or maybe [[aMule]] uses other ones. Only using [[aMule]] will reveal it...
+
'''Note:''' Sadly, very few values get imported: seems only downloaded and uploaded bytes. Maybe it's not the right place where I've written those keys, or maybe [[aMule]] uses other ones. Only using [[aMule]] will reveal it.
  
 
=== Other configurations ===
 
=== Other configurations ===
 
 
Configurations not yet imported are the program strictly ones. They are, for example, about the [http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc793.txt TCP] and [http://www.faqs.org/rfcs/rfc768.html UDP] [[port]] to use, ''Incoming'' and ''Temp'' directories, network limits and so on.
 
Configurations not yet imported are the program strictly ones. They are, for example, about the [http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc793.txt TCP] and [http://www.faqs.org/rfcs/rfc768.html UDP] [[port]] to use, ''Incoming'' and ''Temp'' directories, network limits and so on.
  
Since they are very client-specific and important for its correct behavior, I suggest to redefine them by the ''Preferences'' [[aMule]] form. Maybe it would be long and boring, but done it once, they will last forever, almost...
+
Since they are very client-specific and important for its correct behavior, I suggest to redefine them by the ''Preferences'' [[aMule]] form. Maybe it would be long and boring, but done it once, they will last forever, almost.
  
If you're a real brave guy, you can try to import directly some keys from ''preferences.ini'' to ''amule.conf'', but then do not argue if it doesn't work...
+
If you're really brave, you can try to import directly some keys from ''preferences.ini'' to ''amule.conf'', but then don't argue if it doesn't work.
  
 
== Temporary &amp; Sharing Files ==
 
== Temporary &amp; Sharing Files ==
 
 
Temporary files are compatible between [[eMule]] and [[aMule]], so you only have to set the ''Temp'' dir inside [[aMule]] (and let it [[hash|rehash]] all files) to have them newly available to download.
 
Temporary files are compatible between [[eMule]] and [[aMule]], so you only have to set the ''Temp'' dir inside [[aMule]] (and let it [[hash|rehash]] all files) to have them newly available to download.
  
Line 113: Line 113:
  
 
== In the end... ==
 
== In the end... ==
 
 
Those are the steps I've followed to migrate from [[eMule]] to [[aMule]]. Some things may be wrong, and others maybe could be done better, so if any corrections/ideas/additions come to your mind, take the time to update this article!
 
Those are the steps I've followed to migrate from [[eMule]] to [[aMule]]. Some things may be wrong, and others maybe could be done better, so if any corrections/ideas/additions come to your mind, take the time to update this article!

Latest revision as of 13:33, 2 January 2010

English | 正體中文 | Español


Here you'll find some tips about the migration of configuration & download files from eMule to aMule.

Brief History

eDonkey2000 was born some years ago and its great protocol, ed2k became the Olympian of file sharing programs.

Some coders, unsatisfied by that client, started developing a new one, called eMule. Its source code was open, so anyone able to program could read it and modify it, and so they did. Many client versions came up with patches and new code. Soon the eDonkey2000 guys started criticising eMule, blaming constant slowdowns in the P2P network on the large number of eMule clients. After an initial study phase, eMule developers decided to create a new p2p network leaving eDonkey2000 network alone. It was a success.

The Linux community started developing a Linux client able to connect to eMule's network: lMule was born. A multi p2p network program, mlDonkey added support to eMule's network; later lMule was renamed to xMule. But the winner is yet to come.

xMule got a few coders but a project started ramping up: try to port the changes from eMule to a Linux client: aMule was born. This quickly became the de facto standard "donkey" client for Linux.

eDonkey2000 is now almost dead, and even charges for a professional version of its client.

Migration

Searching around the web you will find a lot of people saying the migration is easy: do not believe them! ;) Or better, it's easy because the temporary file format is compatible, but if we are talking about configuration files, then things are different.

Follow my notes below about the migration from eMule to aMule of all my downloads.

Configuration Files

There are two important parts in eMule: the configuration files and temp/shared files. Let's start with configuration files.

In eMule, these files are stored under config directory. In aMule, instead, the configuration files are stored under ~/.aMule directory (Linux) or in the ~/Library/Application Support/aMule directory (Mac), or, for example in the C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Application Data\aMule directory in Windows. So the easy step is to copy the files from the eMule's configuration directory to aMule's. Good, so let's look further...

Configuration Files Automatically Imported

Many files are read and correctly imported into aMule; among them there are:

That's the good news. The bad is still to come...

Configuration Files NOT Automatically Imported

Here starts the "war bulletin":

  • Configuration file: eMule uses preferences.ini but aMule uses amule.conf.
  • Categories: They are the tabs separating files in the download list; in eMule they are written in the file Category.ini but aMule writes them down into amule.conf.
  • eMule's shareddir.dat file is not compatible with aMule when switching to any aMule not running in Windows, since paths are so different. In this case, aMule will automatically generate this file once you set in Preferences the directories you want to share.
  • Some files in eMule's config directory are not used by aMule: AC_BootstrapIPs.dat, AC_IPFilterUpdateURLs.dat, AC_SearchStrings.dat, AC_ServerMetURLs.dat, fileinfo.ini, k_index.dat, preferencesK.dat, s_index.dat, statistics.ini and webservices.dat. Most of the above files come from old eMule installations and are now deprecated.

Below you'll find how I imported the missing configurations.

Importing Missing Configurations

We have just said that some configurations are not automatically loaded into aMule from eMule; try to find out what we can do to import those data into aMule.

Importing Categories

This command line should help you generate the categories information from eMule's Category.ini file (put the command on the same line):

grep -E "^\[Cat|^Title|^Incoming|^Comment|^Color|^a4afPriority" Category.ini | sed 1,6d | sed 's/#/\\#/g' | sed 's/&/\\&/g' | sed 's/a4afPriority/Priority/g'

This escapes even # and & characters, because I've got them in my Category.ini file; maybe there will be other chars to be escaped that have to be included in the script (edit this article, if it is the case). The script deletes the first 6 rows, that is the first category, since it's a dummy one: that category is the first one in eMule, which contains all/uncategorized/etc files; aMule has its "all" tab and do not need this entry. Cut&paste the script's result into amule.conf.

Under [General] in amule.conf, you have to define a variable count (or change its value if already defined) with value:

echo `grep -c "^\[Cat" Category.ini` -1 | bc

This variable holds the number of tabs to display: note that even if you have imported 10 categories, but leave count=1, only one category will be displayed.

At the end, the categories configuration in amule.conf should look like:

[General]
Count=...
[Cat\#1]
Title=...
Incoming=...
Comment=...
Color=...
Priority=...
[Cat\#2]
Title=...
Incoming=...
Comment=
Color=...
Priority=...
...

Note: If you import the categories before importing the temp files, they will be classified as in eMule.

Importing Statistics

eMule's statistics are available in two different files: preferences.ini and statistics.ini. I found statistics in the latter file more up-to-date than the ones in the former file.

Looking into statistics.ini you'll find that all statistics are under Statistics tag. Even inside amule.conf there exists this tag, so the logic conclusion is to copy from span statistics.ini to amule.conf. In this last file, there are two keys, MaxClientVersions and DesktopMode, that should not be deleted.

Note: Sadly, very few values get imported: seems only downloaded and uploaded bytes. Maybe it's not the right place where I've written those keys, or maybe aMule uses other ones. Only using aMule will reveal it.

Other configurations

Configurations not yet imported are the program strictly ones. They are, for example, about the TCP and UDP port to use, Incoming and Temp directories, network limits and so on.

Since they are very client-specific and important for its correct behavior, I suggest to redefine them by the Preferences aMule form. Maybe it would be long and boring, but done it once, they will last forever, almost.

If you're really brave, you can try to import directly some keys from preferences.ini to amule.conf, but then don't argue if it doesn't work.

Temporary & Sharing Files

Temporary files are compatible between eMule and aMule, so you only have to set the Temp dir inside aMule (and let it rehash all files) to have them newly available to download.

For sharing files we have very few things to do: since they are already downloaded, the only thing to do is say to aMule where they are and wait for rehashing.

In the end...

Those are the steps I've followed to migrate from eMule to aMule. Some things may be wrong, and others maybe could be done better, so if any corrections/ideas/additions come to your mind, take the time to update this article!