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[hardluck]

Any suggestions on setting up aMule rules in Little Snitch? I thought it would work by simply allowing the ports I set for aMule, but aMule doesn't seem to use only set ports. Little Snitch keeps reporting that aMule is seeking connections through a various range of ports - which my limited knowledge simply goes not provide me an understanding as to why this is.

To get aMule up and running I have added a rule to Little Snitch to allow aMule any connection to any port, something I do not like to do for the possible (perceived?) security risks. Help me out here…I want to use both aMule and Little Snitch, and be as secure as if I weren't, know what I mean?

[wuischke]

This is normal. Other users have different ports set. e.g. you have 4662 (standard) , user 1 has 4662 , user 2 6666 and user 3 65432.
In order to transfer data to this user aMule has to connect to this ports, in our example you'll have outgoing connections to the ports 4662, 6666 and 65432.
When they connect to you, all of them will use port 4662 as it is your client tcp port.

That's no security risk at all. Little snitch is intended to monitor outgoing connections in case e.g. you have a trojan horse which sends unwanted data. But in this case it's basic peer-to-peer functionality, Skype will do the same as aMule.

[hardluck]

Thanks wuischke. Your answer knocked sense into me and caused me to get 'In & Out' in their proper place - now if I can just get a grasp on why ED2K is necessary or better than BT maybe I will start to enjoy myself. So far I can't see the need for aMule since while I have been connected to a couple of servers I have yet to download anything whatsoever.

[wuischke]

aMule is in general slower than BT (See aMule is slow in the wiki for explanations and help), but it has some advantages as well:

People tend to share large amounts of files in ed2k and these files will be available in the network for a very long time. In BT torrents 'die' relatively fast as people only share a few files at once and therefore abandon old files to load new ones. This makes BT faster than ed2k, but also limits the available files to mostly new releases.

[hardluck]

The length of time factor is what attracted me to ED2K in the first place. Unfortunately after several hours connected to servers, hole punched in firewall and Little Snitch set to allow any connection by aMule - still nary one bit transferred. Looks like I'm back to solely using BT.

Thanks again w

hardluck

[wuischke]

Have you read the wiki article? It's pretty normal that you'll have to wait, depending on the availability of your files and your credits.

Don't get me wrong, I don't want to force you into using something, but ed2k applications can run very well, but they need patience and upload.

One thing you seem to misunderstand: 'hole punched in firewall' That's no security hole, that's exactly what a firewall should do: Only allow connections which are wanted. Or do you consider port 80 (web browser) a hole in your firewall setup? I claim that many browser are a higher security risk than aMule.
The same applies for the outgoing connections. The purpose of Little Snitch is to find out about unwanted connections. And BT is just like aMule a peer-to-peer application, connecting the same way as aMule to many ports.

I recommend you reading some articles about firewalls and security, you seem to be misinformed about this.
(Please take no offense, these are just common misunderstandings mainly caused by advertisement and less competent pc-magazine-articles.)

[hardluck]

Yes, well taken, especially your point about ads and articles
The wiki helps… and of course your courteous assistance even more so. I will keep aMule on my drive and do a little more investigating. I was surprised by the vast number of peers active at one time - although apparently not with much interest in what I was seeking

Using a Mac doesn't help, but I would not change to Windows if paid! I simply do not know enough about terminal or command line to venture into the *nix arena, although it is on my list pf things to do before I die.