All Kazaa Lite K++ options explained
My Kazaa Lite K++
Username
The username that is used when you connect to the network. These are not unique, so you can choose any username that you like.
Just fill in a fake e-mail address here.
Country
Select your country. This setting is not important, so you can just leave it at the default value.
Launch Kazaa Lite K++ automatically with Windows
This will start Kazaa Lite K++ every time when you start Windows.
Traffic
Shared Folder
All your downloads will be placed in this folder. All the partially downloaded files (.dat) are in here too. All completed files in this folder will be shared.
Limits
Here you can set the maximum number of active downloads and uploads. Active downloads are files that are not paused or queued.
Some general settings are:
Dial-up users should have between 2 and 6 downloads and 2 uploads.
Users with basic cable and ADSL variants should have between 4 and 8 downloads and between 3 and 6 uploads.
Users with fast cable and ADSL variants should have between 6 and 10 downloads and between 5 and 10 uploads.
Users a high speed connection (corporate LAN, university networks) should have between 10a nd 16 downloads and between 10 and 16 uploads.
It is not a good idea to set the number of uploads to unlimited. This will result in many very slow uploads. It is better to set it at a value of for example 10.
Disable sharing of files with other users
It should be clear what this option does. The ground rule of filesharing is that everyone should share.
Advanced
Maximum number of search results
This is the maximum amount of search results returned for a single search. The value should be between 1 and 200 (default).
Do not function as a supernode
When you enable this options, you will never be a supernode. If you disable it (default), then you could be a supernode once in a while. That depends on a number of factors like OS, memory, CPU and type of internet connection. A fast computer and a fast connection are required.
Supernodes play a vital role in the network. They are responsible for indexing the shared files of the nodes that are connected to the supernode and they deliver the search results to the nodes. Supernodes are connected to a couple other supernodes, forming a web of supernodes, which is the basis of the whole network. Usually a few hundred users are connected to a single supernode. There are thousands of supernodes all around the world.
The advantage of being a supernode is that your searches will be slightly faster. Also you help keeping the network up and running.
The disadvantages are that it will use a little bit of CPU power and memory and also a little bit of bandwidth.
Extra upload bandwidth when computer is idle.
When you enable this option, some extra bandwidth will be made available to the people that download from you, when you are not using your computer. It is like a screensaver. If you haven't moved your mouse or touched your keyboard for a while, then the max upload bandwidth setting will be temporarily increased. When you use your computer again, everything will be back to normal.
Filter
Family Filter
Here you can enable different filters that filter out the search results. The filters should be self-explanatory. You can optionally protect the filter setting with a password, so that other users on your computer can change the filter settings.
Filter file types that can potentially contain a virus
This will filter out ALL filetypes that could possibly contain a virus or other malicious software. If you enable this option, then you will NOT be able to download any software. If you want to be able to download software or games, then you should turn this filter off.
Filter out files that I cannot download due to firewalls
This will filter out files from the search results that are shared by people who are behind a firewall that is configured to block uploads. In most cases you can not download those files, so it is better to filter them out of the search results.
Filter bogus music and video files
This will filter out files that have a file-extension of a video or music file, but aren't actually real video or music files. This should be turned on too.
Blocklist
Here you can input keywords or strings that should be filtered out of the search results. They need to be comma seperated. Every file that contains one of these keywords or strings in it's filename or description will be filtered out of the search results.
Firewall
Socks5 proxy server & Authentication
For those who want to use a socks5 type proxy server, this should be self-explanatory.
For normal usage this option should be turned off.
Incoming ports
Here you can select which port should be used by Kazaa Lite K++ for incoming connections.
Messages
When you enable 'ignore all incoming messages', all messages send by other users to you will be blocked and you won't see them. When this option is disabled you will be able to receive messages from other users, except from those who are on your ignore list.
Skins
Here you can select a skin that should be used by Kazaa Lite K++. Note that you first have to install a skin before you can do that.
It is recommended to leave this setting on 'Classic (No Skin)'.
K++ Options
Start page
This is the url of the webpage that is loaded into the web tab when you start Kazaa Lite K++.
Default is a local webpage. The url of a local pagestarts with "file://". For example:
file://C:\Program Files\Kazaa Lite K++\web\start.htm
You can fill in any url you like here. For example:
http://www.kazaalitekpp.com
If you want a blank page, fill in this:
about:blank
Network name
This is what will appear behind the @ after your username. Default value is KaZaA.
Constant PL 1,000
This will set your Participation Level at the highest possible value. Also known as the Participation Level cheat.
Other users can't cut in line
This will prevent people with a high PL from booting people with a lower PL out of your uploads. That way you will be uploading at a first come first serve basis. This will result in a higher amount of succesful uploads.
This option is automatically enabled when you have the constant PL 1,000 option enabled.
Block Bad IP Ranges
This will prevent a lot of IPs from making a connection with your Kazaa Lite K++. It mostly blocks organisations that try to monitor illegal filesharing activity or that try to spread fake files on the network.
Users can't get a list of all your shared files
This will prevent other people from being able to see a list with all of your shared files. This is a very powerful option in the battle against the organisations that try to monitor filesharing activity. It prevents them from acquiring any evidence.
The only downside to this option is that it can make people think that your are not sharing any files.
Purge search history on exit
This will delete your search history automatically when you close Kazaa Lite K++.
Disable port 1214
This will disable Kazaa Lite K++ from listening at port 1214, which is the default port used by Kazaa. This improves your privacy and security. Note that this option only works if you have set a different port as 1214 for incoming connections (firewall tab).
All KL Extensions options explained
These will be added to the FAQ later.
Setting up Directories for sharing and downloading
After Kazaa has been installed it's good to have easy access what you want to share and what you are downloading. Make two new directories on your hard drive one called 'download' (for example) and one called 'shared' (for example). The first directory is where the downloads will go and the second on is where you can put files what you want to share with other people.
Now in Kazaa Lite on the top menu bar, go to Tools > Find Media to Share. There will be a tab on the new window you opened called 'folder list', click on it. To make sure your not sharing any other folders, click on 'de-select all'. Now click the plus sign next to c: drive. Then put a check in the box next to the shared folder that you created earlier. Now hit ok. Now make sure you move anything you want to share to people into the shared folder. Your download folder is automaticly shared, so don't select that one (otherwise your files will appear twice in the My Kazaa screen).
Now to setup where you files download. Remember once you pick a spot to download, the .dat files remember that folder. When the files are finished downloading, they will be put in the folder they remembered. So if you change your download location and have some unfinished downloads, move all of them to the new folder, but don't delete the old folder yet till all have finished downloading.
To change the download location, in Kazaa Lite on the top menu bar, go to Tools > Options. In the window that open up, there is a tab called Traffic, click on that tab. You will see "Folder for Downloading Files" and a white box next to it saying where your current download location is. Next to that box is a button with "..." in it. Click on that button and "browse for folder" window will open up. Select the folder that you created earlier on and click on OK. Now after you download something with Kazaa Lite, it should show up in that folder.
Note: Remember that your download directory is automatically shared!
Do I have to share?
You do not have to share files, but it is greatly appreciated. If there were no people sharing files, then you would also not be able to download anything.
Kazaa and Kazaa Lite version 2 have a Participation Level feature. If you have a high Participation Level, you will get priority over people with a lower Participation Level when you download files.
You can increase your participation Level by sharing files. Whenever you upload files, your Participation Level will rise. When you download it will go down.
How many files should I share?
Depends on what size the files are. If you are sharing large files (over 100 MB) then sharing 10 or more is fine. If you are sharing smaller files like .mp3 then share more files, around 50 or more. These files won't take as long to upload so having more to share to keep you uploading.
Note that this is just an indication for an average. You can share less or more if you want.