[ HELP file resumed from FAQ at http://users.aber.ac.uk/tpm01/ed2k_tools/faq.html ] Read the aforementioned FAQ for complete instructions. 1) You have to configure the 'core' client and add a password Install the "net/edonkey-core" port and type 'donkey' from the command line and then typing 'pass username password' (and hitting ENTER). Once you are finished, type 'q' (ENTER) and 'y' (ENTER) to quit and make the core save its preferences. Of course, username must be a username you desire; and, password, a password you want to use. These are for connecting to the 'core' client, not for anything else. Therefore, unless you want someone mischiefly connecting to your client, choose both carefully. :) 2) Start 'core' client prior to running any of the GUIs after you have setup a password To start the core client to make it controllable via a GUI, type 'donkey - !' from the command line. 3) Run the GUI and connect to the core client Install the port "net/edonkey-gui-gtk" or "net/edonkey-gui-java", whichever one you prefer. Next run 'edonkey-gui-gtk' (if you chose the FreeBSD native GTK GUI client, or linux-edonkey-gui-gtk if Linux one) or 'edonkey-gui-java' (if you chose the Java GUI client). The Java GUI is very slow compared to the GTK one but it both supports multiple line selections and ed2k link pastes. The GTK one cannot do that now but it's very fast; it can accept ed2k link drag-n-drops using a mouse and keeps getting new features all the time. Therefore, I would advise using both, each for what their strong points are. The Java one to multiple select and the GTK one for normal use. Okay, the GUI starts and there is that 'connect to' dialog, now what do I do? First of all, you'll need an edonkey core running somewhere. Usually this will be the computer you're running the GUI on. There should be a status message above the buttons that tell you if there is already a core running locally or not. If not, hit the 'spawn local donkey' button to start the edonkey2000 core program. Now the status message should change. If not, you'll have to start the core client manually (Refer to step #2). Second, if you spawned the donkey core alright, you enter the admin username and password into the appropriate fields in the 'connect to' dialog and hit the 'connect' button. Now the 'connect to' dialog should disappear and the GUI should be connected to the core. If this does not happen, there could be the following problems (also check the statusbar of the GUI main window for messages): (a) If you have started the core manually, you forgot the '-' option. Start it with 'donkey - !' from the command line. (b) You're connecting to the wrong computer ('host'). This should be 'localhost' by default. (c) You're connecting to the wrong port on your computer. The default GUI port can be set in the command line 'core' client via the 'aport' command, but should be 4663 by default. (d) You haven't set a username and/or password with the core manually (Refer to step #1). (e) Your username/password are wrong (run the core manually and type the 'vo' command to see what they are set to). (f) The 'connect to' dialog disappears, but nothing seems to happen. Most notably, the options page shows 'pleasewait' as a nickname: This happens if you connect to the core on the wrong port, namely on the port the core uses as its _data_ port. Start the core manually and type 'vo' to see what the admin port is. Make sure the 'admin port' is different from the 'door port' (=data port). If in doubt, type 'netstat -l' from the command line to see on what ports the donkey is listening. It should be one of those. (g) If you're trying to control a GUI on a remote host, chances are that there is a firewall between you and the remote host that blocks all TCP connections on the admin port. If this is the case, you have to check your firewall settings and allow these connections or try a different port as an admin port. Third, you're connected, and the options page does NOT show 'pleasewait' as a nickname. This is a very good sign, meaning that the GUI and the core can actually talk to each other. Now you should be able to do whatever you want: Go to the servers page and connect to a server first. Then you can search and start to download things. If you right-click on the list-entries you'll get all the available actions. Don't forget to share! :)