What bootstrap means
Kad is a decentralised discovery network. To join it, a client first needs information about at least one participant. Bootstrapping introduces that starting contact; it does not download the files you are looking for or guarantee that a particular source is online.
The contact information may come from clients already known through eD2K, a suitable nodes.dat file, or a specific known Kad participant. A server.met file contains eD2K server information and is not a replacement for a Kad contact list.
Start with known clients
- Connect eMule to a server from a maintained list.
- Allow the client to discover other peers through a legitimate search or transfer.
- Open the Kad tab and choose the bootstrap option that uses known clients.
- Give the contact exchange time to complete and read the reported status.
This route is useful when you already have a working eD2K connection because it avoids searching for an arbitrary contact-file download.
If you need a nodes.dat file
A nodes.dat file stores information about Kad contacts. Obtain one only from a source you have reason to trust, and use the import or bootstrap option supported by your client. A larger file or a page claiming a newer date does not by itself establish that its contacts are useful.
Back up configuration before manually replacing files. Do not repeatedly overwrite contact data while eMule is running. Once Kad has working contacts, routine file replacement is usually the wrong first response to a slow download.
Connected but firewalled
A client can know the network while still having limited incoming reachability. Compare the selected UDP port with your operating-system rule and router mapping. If a VPN is active, its route and port-forwarding behaviour also matter. A successful TCP test alone does not prove that the UDP path is open.
Use the port and firewall guide to check the path, and the Low ID guide if both networks show reachability problems.
Kad connects, but search finds nothing
Use a simple search and check that you have selected the intended network mode. A connected discovery network cannot return a file that no reachable participant is offering. Broaden an overly specific query and compare availability before assuming the connection itself has failed.
If both Kad and eD2K are connected, move on to source availability and queues. Keeping the client connected for a reasonable period is more informative than repeatedly disconnecting and restarting it.