aMule

Name: aMule
Availability: Discontinued
Author: aMule Project

aMule is an open source, cross-platform client for the eDonkey (ed2k) and Kad peer-to-peer networks. It is the Linux/macOS equivalent of eMule, sharing the same networks and file sources while running natively on non-Windows platforms.

What it does

The program connects to ed2k servers and the Kad decentralized network to search for and download files shared by other users. Downloads pull segments from multiple sources simultaneously. A credit system rewards users who share more by giving them higher priority in download queues.

A web interface allows remote management from a browser, and the command-line daemon (amuled) runs on headless servers. The program is still technically maintained on GitHub with occasional updates, though the underlying networks have minimal activity.

Advantages

Cross-platform (Linux, macOS, Windows)
Open source and community maintained
Web interface for remote management
Daemon mode for server operation

Drawbacks

ed2k/Kad networks have very few active users
Extremely slow downloads compared to BitTorrent
P2P file sharing carries legal risks
qBittorrent is the standard P2P client for BitTorrent

Who it is for

aMule is for users who need access to the legacy ed2k/Kad networks on Linux or macOS. These networks have a fraction of their former activity. For most P2P needs, BitTorrent via qBittorrent or Transmission is faster, more widely used, and has more available content.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is aMule?

An open source, cross-platform client for eDonkey and Kad peer-to-peer networks, serving as the Linux/macOS equivalent of eMule.

Is the eDonkey network still active?

Barely. The ed2k/Kad networks have a tiny fraction of their former users. BitTorrent has far more active users and content.

What P2P client should I use on Linux?

qBittorrent or Transmission for BitTorrent protocol. Both are free, open source, and available in most Linux package managers.

Features & How-To Guide

#	Feature	How to use
1	File download from eDonkey and Kad networks	Connect to both networks simultaneously. ED2K: Servers tab › Connect. Kad: Kad tab › Bootstrap.
2	Multi-source download	Files split into 9.28 MB chunks downloaded in parallel from multiple users. Progress visible in Transfers tab.
3	P2P network file search	Search tab › Enter keywords › Select type (Local/Global/Kad) › Filter by file type and size › Start.
4	Download speed limiting 6	Preferences › Connection › Limits › Set maximum upload and download speed in KB/s.
5	Uploader credits system	Tracks upload/download ratio with each peer. Users who upload more receive faster access to the queue.
6	Download priority management	Right-click on downloading file › Priority › Low/Normal/High/Very High. Higher priority = faster download.
7	Shared file management 2	Preferences › Directories › Shared Directories › Check folders to share. Shared Files tab shows statistics.
8	Web interface (amuleweb)	Preferences › Remote Controls › Web Server › Enable › Set port (default 4711) and password. Access from browser.
9	Source exchange between clients	Automatically exchanges source information with other clients downloading the same file - finds more sources.
10	Secure identification (SecureID)	Preferences › Security › Use Secure Identification. Cryptographic authentication prevents credit theft.
11	Daemon mode amuled	Run amuled in the background on server/NAS. Connect remotely via amulegui (graphical) or amulecmd (terminal).
12	URL and malicious site filtering 2	Preferences › Security › IP Filtering › Enable. Blocks connections from known bad IP addresses (anti-leech).