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How MLDonkey Works — Features, Setup, and Tips

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MLDonkey Troubleshooting: Common Issues and FixesMLDonkey is a long-standing, versatile peer-to-peer (P2P) file-sharing application that supports multiple networks (eDonkey, Overnet, BitTorrent, Gnutella, and others). Because it’s highly configurable and often run on headless servers, users sometimes encounter setup, connectivity, performance, and compatibility issues. This article walks through common MLDonkey problems and practical fixes, covering diagnostics, configuration tips, network considerations, and maintenance best practices.

1. Before you begin: collect diagnostic information

Collecting the right information up front speeds troubleshooting.

  • MLDonkey version — different versions have different defaults and bug fixes.
  • Operating system and architecture (Linux distro/version, FreeBSD, macOS).
  • How MLDonkey is run — systemd service, Docker container, manually in terminal, or as part of a NAS package.
  • Networks enabled (eDonkey, BitTorrent, Gnutella, etc.).
  • Log files — MLDonkey logs (usually in ~/.mldonkey or /var/lib/mldonkey) and system logs (journalctl/syslog).
  • Configuration files — mldonkey.conf or the config stored in the MLDonkey state directory.
  • Symptoms — connection errors, no transfers, slow speeds, crashes, high CPU/memory, web UI problems.
  • Client environment — firewall rules, NAT, ISP restrictions, router UPnP/NAT-PMP status.

Gather these before changing settings so you can revert or compare.

2. Common issue: MLDonkey won’t start

Symptoms: daemon exits immediately, or repeatedly crashes on startup.

Causes & fixes:

  • Corrupt or incompatible configuration/state files: move or back up the state directory (often ~/.mldonkey or /var/lib/mldonkey) and start with a fresh config. Example:
    • Backup: mv ~/.mldonkey ~/.mldonkey.bak
    • Start to generate defaults, then reapply needed settings.
  • Permissions: ensure the MLDonkey process user can read/write its config and state directories. Use chown/chmod as appropriate.
  • Binary incompatibility: if installed from a package, confirm the package matches your OS/architecture. Reinstall or build from source if needed.
  • Missing dependencies: check error logs for missing libraries; install required packages.
  • Check logs: run mldonkey in foreground (if available) to see immediate error messages.

3. Web/GUI unavailable or login fails

Symptoms: web interface doesn’t load, shows errors, or login credentials don’t work.

Causes & fixes:

  • Wrong bind address or port: in config, ensure web server is bound to the expected IP/port (default often 4080). If bound to localhost, remote access won’t work.
  • Firewall or SELinux blocking: open the port in the firewall (ufw/iptables/firewalld) and check SELinux policies.
  • Wrong password or auth method: MLDonkey may use its own auth or an HTTP server front-end. Reset the web UI password in the config or state (refer to logs or documentation for the password key).
  • Conflicting services: another service may already use the port. Use netstat/ss to check.
  • TLS/SSL issues: if you configured HTTPS and certificates are invalid, the browser may refuse connection. Test with HTTP temporarily.

4. No network connections or peers

Symptoms: MLDonkey shows zero peers or very few, cannot download.

Causes & fixes:

  • Network disabled for a protocol: verify in config that the desired networks (eDonkey, BitTorrent, etc.) are enabled.
  • Firewall/NAT blocking inbound: open required ports and forward them on your router. For BitTorrent, forward the torrent listening port; for eDonkey/Overnet, forward the appropriate TCP/UDP ports. Use UPnP/NAT-PMP to auto-configure if available.
  • ISP or network-level blocking: some ISPs throttle or block P2P traffic. Test from another network or use a VPN to compare behavior.
  • DHT/Tracker issues (BitTorrent): ensure DHT is enabled and trackers are reachable. Use magnet links to rely on DHT/PEX when trackers fail.
  • Bootstrapping problems: eDonkey/Overnet sometimes require correct bootstrap servers. Check and update bootstrap server lists in the config.
  • Time and date incorrect: some protocols and TLS operations depend on system time. Ensure system clock is accurate.

5. Very slow download or upload speeds

Symptoms: transfers complete much slower than expected.

Causes & fixes:

  • Bandwidth limits: check MLDonkey’s max upload/download settings and remove artificial caps. Also check OS-level QoS or limits.
  • Too many simultaneous transfers: reduce number of active downloads/uploads so each has sufficient bandwidth.
  • Poor peer quality: remove low-quality sources, prioritize good peers, or use protocol-specific settings (e.g., increase max connections for BitTorrent).
  • TCP/UDP window or sysctl tuning: on Linux, tuning net.core.rmem_max, net.core.wmem_max, and TCP settings can improve throughput for high-speed links.
  • Disk I/O bottleneck: verify disk health and speed; ensure download directory isn’t on a failing or very slow medium. Check for excessive disk writes or swap usage.
  • ISP shaping or congestion: test with a VPN or at different times of day.
  • Port forwarding and NAT: unforwarded ports reduce incoming connections which can throttle speeds—forward the right ports and enable UPnP if needed.

6. High CPU or memory usage

Symptoms: MLDonkey consumes excessive CPU or RAM, making the machine sluggish.

Causes & fixes:

  • Too many network connections or large routing tables: reduce max peers/connections per network in the config.
  • Memory leaks or old versions: upgrade to a stable, recent MLDonkey build that includes fixes. Check issue trackers for known memory leaks.
  • Heavy indexing or hashing operations: initial hash checks or rechecks on many files may spike usage; let it complete or schedule during low-use periods.
  • Plugins or scripts: disable optional modules to isolate the cause.
  • Swap thrashing: add RAM or reduce MLDonkey memory footprint via config limits.

7. Corrupted downloads or frequent rechecks

Symptoms: files fail integrity checks or recheck repeatedly.

Causes & fixes:

  • Disk errors: run SMART and filesystem checks; repair or replace failing drives.
  • Incorrect disk cache settings: ensure MLDonkey’s file caching settings are tuned for your system to avoid partial writes.
  • File system incompatibility: avoid using filesystems with poor locking or caching behavior for P2P (some network filesystems can cause problems). Use local ext4, xfs, or equivalent.
  • Simultaneous access: ensure no other process is modifying the files in the download directory (antivirus, backup services).
  • Abrupt shutdowns: ensure clean shutdown of MLDonkey to avoid incomplete state writes.

8. Problems with specific networks (BitTorrent, eDonkey, Gnutella)

BitTorrent-specific:

  • No peers from DHT: enable DHT and verify UDP traffic isn’t blocked.
  • Magnet links not resolving: ensure DHT and tracker access are enabled and the client has had time to bootstrap.
  • Tracker errors: some trackers require updated protocol support or have banned certain clients—check tracker messages in logs.

eDonkey/Overnet-specific:

  • Low peer counts: update server list and ensure TCP/UDP ports are forwarded.
  • Server connection problems: add reliable eDonkey servers or use Kademlia where supported.

Gnutella-specific:

  • High routing table churn: reduce max connections or tweak Gnutella-specific settings.

For all networks, consult MLDonkey logs to see protocol-specific error messages and react accordingly.

9. Compatibility issues with modern clients and networks

MLDonkey has an older architecture; some networks evolve and may deprecate certain features.

  • Use the latest stable MLDonkey release compatible with your OS. Community forks or patched builds sometimes keep protocol support up to date.
  • Consider running MLDonkey as a backend only (headless) and using a modern frontend client that communicates via the RPC/web UI if that improves UX or compatibility.
  • For BitTorrent, ensure support for modern extensions (DHT, PEX, BEP protocols) is enabled.

10. Security and privacy considerations

  • Keep MLDonkey updated to receive security fixes.
  • Run MLDonkey under a dedicated user with minimal permissions.
  • Use firewall rules to restrict unwanted inbound connections and to expose only required ports.
  • Consider routing P2P traffic through a reputable VPN if you need privacy or to bypass ISP throttling—be aware of VPN policies regarding P2P.
  • Limit remote administration access (web UI) with strong passwords and, if possible, IP restrictions or HTTPS.

11. Maintenance and best practices

  • Back up your MLDonkey state directory periodically so you can recover settings and partial downloads.
  • Monitor logs (rotate them) and set up simple alerts for crashes or excessive resource use.
  • Keep the system clock synced (NTP/chrony) to avoid protocol/time-dependent issues.
  • If running on a server, use a process supervisor (systemd, runit) to auto-restart on failure and capture logs.
  • Document your custom configuration and changes to make future troubleshooting faster.

12. When to seek help or switch clients

If you’ve tried the above and MLDonkey still misbehaves, consider:

  • Posting a concise issue on MLDonkey mailing lists or relevant community forums with version, OS, logs, and config snippets.
  • Testing with another P2P client to determine if the issue is network/ISP-related or MLDonkey-specific.
  • Migrating to a more actively maintained client if protocol support or security updates are a concern.

If you want, I can:

  • Review specific MLDonkey log excerpts or configuration files (paste them here) and point out likely causes.
  • Provide command examples for common fixes (systemd unit example, firewall rules, sample mldonkey.conf).

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