Setting up active mode

For DC++ to work properly in active mode, it requires access on TCP and UDP listening ports, as well as outgoing access on all ports for both TCP and UDP.

First you need to set up the router to forward the connections to the computer with DC++. This is could be called Port mapping, port redirecting, port forwarding or something like that. Find out how to do this with your router / NAT in the user manual. You need to forward two ports, with either the same port number or different ones. Select one or two numbers between 1024 - 65535, they should mostly all be free. Make sure both UDP and TCP is being forwarded on the port(s) you chose. The IP that you are forwarding to should be the internal IP address of your DC++ computer. It usually begins with "192.168", "172.16." or "10.x.". Go to the command prompt and type: ipconfig (Start Menu -> Run -> cmd /k ipconfig)

When you have mapped the port(s) on the router, open up DC++ and go to Settings. Select active mode. In the port fields, enter the port number(s) that you forwarded on the router. In the IP field, you need to enter the external IP address of your router. Your external IP can be checked against DSLReport's IP page.

It should now be working. If it is working for a while, but the next time you use DC++, you only get "Connection Timeout’s or no results when searching, your IP (either external or internal) is likely to have changed. If you find the external IP is constantly changing, you can set yourself up with a dynamic name (i.e. hub.example.com). Such as Dynip or DynDns and put that name into the IP field. Make sure to use a program that updates the dynamic name service with your latest IP.

Windows XP?
Service Pack 1: Its strongly recommended that you do not use the SP1 firewall and instead use a third party one. Make sure to disable the XP firewall if you do choose this option. If you really must use it, then checkout this guide on how to set it up.
Service Pack 2: The firewall in SP2 is a lot more robust than its original incarnation. While it does not offer a plethora of options, its suitable to use by itself for protection. Its wise to enable logging of packets that the firewall drops for troubleshooting applications. To do this, go to Control Panels -> Windows Firewall -> Advanced Tab -> Security Logging -> Settings. Enable Log Dropped Packets. The log file is located at: C:\WINDOWS\pfirewall.log.

Slow download speeds

If you experience slow downloads, it could be for many reasons:

1. The upload bandwidth of the person you're downloading from is maxed out. Don't pay attention to the value of the connection type column, the value is often is not an accurate representation of the user's connection type.
Users with fewer slots used may result in faster speeds - someone with two out of three (2/3) slots free may have more bandwidth available than someone with one out of three (1/3). This number appears in the status column of the Search Window.

2. You need to optimize your operating system for your current connection speed. First, close all P2P applications. Next run the DSLReports TweakTest . Once you have optimized it, then run a Speed Test (select the site closest to your location for accurate results). This will give you a good idea what your maximum download and upload speeds are. If you're getting within 10% of your connection speed, that's the best you can get! If you are having trouble with your broadband connection, and it relates to packet loss, excessive latency, or Internet or ISP congestion, running the Line Quality Test may help find the cause (requires logon, free signup).

3. The person who you are downloading from is using a bandwidth limiter. There are two types: client based and third-party program.
- Often the clients with limiting capability have set download and upload speed ratios in place to avoid abuse. (ex. If the upload speed limit is set below 6 KiB/s, then the client will restrict the client download speed to a 2:1 ratio). This varies from client to client and obviously not all support upload limiting. This type of speed limiting only restricts the uploading of files, including user lists. It does not limit chat, private messages, or searches.
- Users could also be using a third-party program to limit the speed of traffic. This type of speed limiting is absolute; it will limit the speed of all traffic by the user, which can include file transfers, searches, chat, and private messages. Since this type of application does not enforce a download speed:upload speed ratio, it may be more prone to abuse. For particularly slow transfers - 1 KiB/s or slower, it may be to blame.

4. Your Internet connection is shared with others on your LAN and they are using up all the available bandwidth. Tell them to knock it off. =)

5. Your copy of Windows XP or Server 2003 has the "QoS Packet Scheduler" enabled. Follow this guide to disable QoS. Windows 95/98, Millennium, and 2000 do not come with QoS. Some routers have QoS capabilities, but shouldn't be enabled by default. Please consult your router's manual for more information.

6. Your ISP may be limiting your P2P traffic via some method of packet shaping. Call up the ISP and inquire if they do anything with P2P traffic. If the ISP does throttle you, then there is nothing that can be done to increase the speeds. This is very common at Universities and at the workplace, and there is often nothing you can do.

7. Your Internet connection is DSL, cable, or satellite one with an asymmetrical connection speed, such as 768/128kb or 3.0mb/256kb. On such connections, if you upload near the speed of your upload limit (16 KiB/s in the case of the 768/128 connection), it will affect the speeds of your downloads, no matter how much larger your download connection is. If this is happening, you can use the "Use small send buffer" setting.

How can I increase my share size ?

The best is to copy (= rip) your own CDs to your computer, especially the rare or very specific ones. This way you are sure to bring stuff others do not have already. As today's CD's offer is pretty small compared to the mid 80's, we are highly interested in CDs from those labels: Unicorn, Mercury, Living Presence, Nimbus, Coup d'Archet, Vogue, Denon, Astrée, Valois Auvidis, … We are also interested in less known performers from the 30's to the 70's which records were not reissued much on CDs, especially unofficial bootlegs that some labels used to issue. Be sure that if you bring that kind of records you will be welcome even with less than 15GB. The website: http://www.rex-guide.de.vu will learn you how to make best quality rips as possible (classical music deserves better than common mp3, don't you think ?)

If you do not have 15GB of classical music and can't rip that much (because you don't have time or don't want to), I suggest you to use the bittorrent network to increase your share. The concept of this network is to get files you would normally not think about by downloading them while they are available (usually a couple of weeks). You do not need to share anything to use it: you just upload (= seeding) parts of the files you are downloading (= leeching). The more you seed the faster you download. To download files, you need to get what is called a "torrent" first. This torrent will allow your client to connect to a tracker (server) that will link you to the seeders (those who will send you the files). You can find those torrents on several web sites. The best one to me for classical music is http://imagegarden.net but it is a chinese site (thanks Google for the translation). Most of its torrents are lossless ape CDimages, which mean high quality copies. Here are some Bittorrent clients: Bittorrent (official), BitComet, BitTornado, …