KaZuperNodes

About the FastTrack Network

Kazaa uses the FastTrack Network. The network works with two kinds of users. If you only share your files and download from other users, you are a client. If your PC works for the Network too, you are a supernode. The supernode makes the clients find each other. The supernode manages the search requests of the clients and forward the search requests to other clients and supernodes. The client gets back the search results from the supernode. If you start the download, you get connected directly by the IP.

What is KaZuperNodes?

KaZuperNodes is a tool for Kazaa that helps you switch supernodes within K-Lite.

What are supernodes?

If your computer is functioning as a supernode, other Kazaa users in your area will automatically upload to your machine a small list of the files that they are sharing. When they perform a search, they send the search request to you as a supernode. The download will take place between the PC on which the file is shared and the PC that requested the file, not via the supernode.

Is it harmful for my computer to be a supernode?

No. Being a supernode helps other users. Other computers connect to you, and your computer does the searching for them. Your supernode communicates with other Supernodes worldwide to help other users search. The amount of Central Processing Unit (CPU) resources that can be used by a supernode is limited to 10% of the total CPU power available. You may not even notice if your computer is functioning as a supernode.

What if I don't want my computer to be a supernode?

Go to Tools > Options, select the ‘Advanced’ tab and check the 'Do not function as a supernode' box.

How does it all work?

When you connect to the FastTrack network, you are assigned a supernode and you send it your shared file list. When you search for a file, a request for that file is sent out to your supernode. The supernode sorts through its list and sends you back the matches.

By jumping (hopping) supernodes you can get different search results. If you can only find a few sources on a given supernode and they are slow, you will have a slow download that is indirectly caused by the supernode you are connected to.

This is where KaZuperNodes really comes into its own as you can pick and choose the supernodes you want to jump to depending on their location or speeds. Say, for example, a particular film you are looking for comes out in America then there is no point being on a supernode in Spain. With KaZuperNodes, it’s possible to choose a geographical location to hop to. More search results = more sources = faster speeds (depending on the connection of people your downloading from), making it very useful to hunt down those hard to find files, where the majority of good sources are in a certain location.

A good way of transferring the search results you find into actual sources is to leave 'auto search more' searching for the particular file your downloading (don’t leave it searching for too long, otherwise, you will be booted from your current supernode). When more search results are found for your file, these search results will be added to your download sources, try it with a file of your choice. For example, if I'm downloading a film and it’s only showing 2 sources in my download queue, I will start a search for the exact file. Say 6 results are returned then some of these 6 results will be added to my 2 sources I already have. The amount of sources that are added varies.

What its possible to do now, with the latest KaZuperNodes is compile a list of supernodes to connect to so if you do get booted from your current supernode then you can have KaZupernodes connect to the next node on your list. The 'compiled supernode list' is only used for one jump. After that Kazaa rewrites the list. It has no lasting effect. You could edit your supernode list and remove clients with an unknown status or slow response times and then press apply new supernode list button.

How can KaZuperNodes work for me?

First off, you may want to know where the file you want may be located. Or you can just jump random supernodes if you are trying to find more sources for a download.  To do this you must:

1. Click on “Check Status” (the lightning bolt icon in the bottom left hand corner) to get information about your contacts in the supernode list.

2. Select a contact by double clicking on it in your supernode list (make sure it’s one to the correct geographical location if you are searching for a file you think may be more common to find in another area).

3. The chosen contact will appear to the right side in the “New supernode” section. Now retest their online status by clicking on the lightning blot to see if the contact is a Supernode or a client.

a) If it's a Supernode click on “Connect to New Supernode” (the little check).
b) If it's a client click on, “Show Supernode” (the “SN” icon) and then on “Connect to New Supernode” (the little check).
c) If you get an error you have to select a new Supernode in your contact list and start from step 2 again.
d) After setting up the new Supernode you have to restart K-Lite

4. When you are reconnected, you should see your new supernode under “Current Connection”.

I did all the steps provided above and now K-Lite does not connect

In KaZuperNodes, click on the “Panic” button (the white circle with a red + in the center). This should reset your supernode.

Can I add a supernode to a favorites list?

Yes you can. To add a supernode to you favorite list, right click on the supernode and then select “Add to Favorites”. To access your favorite list, go to View, then click on “Favorites”. You can also add it to your SuperList. The SuperList gives your Kazaa addresses a supernode to connect to. To add a supernode to your list, right click on the supernode and select “Add to SuperList”. To access your SuperList, go to View, and click on “SuperList”.

What else can I do with the SuperList?

1. Use all Supernodes – Uses all supernodes in the list
2. Use the topmost that is online – Uses only the supernode that is online the most.
3. Connect to this IP/DNS – Connects to supernodes that have the IP/DNS that you provide.

4. Try to stay in the same country –Uses only the supernodes that are in the same country.

It is recommended that none of these settings are changed.

Can I save my favorites and super lists?

You can save supernode lists and favorite lists and exchange them with other users. If you want to save a supernode list, go to File, "Save SN List" and save it.

To save a favorite lists, go to File, “Export Favorites” and save the list.

To save your SuperList, you must open the SuperList window (View > SuperList). You then go to File, “Save SN List” and save your SuperList.

Can I open a list sent from my friend?

To open a supernode list, click on File, “Open SN List” when you open the list it should appear on the screen.

To open a favorites list, go to File, “Import Favorites” and the list should appear in your favorites list.

To open a SuperList, do same except click on “Open SN List”. The supernodes should now appear in your SuperList.

What does each icon in KaZuperNodes do?

**Note – if you hover over an icon, you will see the information provided in parentheses, - ( ) -, appear. Also, notice that there are two different Flashlight icons.  Each does something similar, but different

The Semi-Circle (Refresh) – This icon restores your SN list to what it originally was before you check the status of all the connections. 

The Lightning Bolt (Check Status) – This icon checks the status, or connections, of all the supernodes in a supernode list.

The FlashLight (Localize) – This icon can help you find out even MORE information about a supernode, such as the town the supernode is located in.

The Dotted Circle (Restore Original SuperNode List) – This icon restores the original supernode list.

Arrow Lightning Bolt (Quick Status Check) – This icon quickly checks the status of the supernodes. This does not provide as much information of a supernode as a regular status check.

Arrow Above Two Lines (Add To Favorites) – This icon adds the current supernode you are connected to, to your favorites.

Notepads (Copy To Clipboard) – This icon copies the supernode you are connected to, to your clipboard.

SN Circle (Show Supernode) – This icon allows you to show which supernode a selected client is connected to.

Kazaa Icon (Set New SN and Restart Kazaa) – This icon allows you to change the supernode you want K-Lite to connect to and lets KaZuperNodes automatically restart K-Lite for you.

Flashlight (Resolve IP) – This icon allows you to see what port and ISP a supernode or client may be using.

The Red Cross (Click me if Kazaa isn’t able to connect anymore) Also Known as the “Panic Button” – This icon allows you to connect K-Lite to a supernode if you encounter any problems after trying to change the supernode.

How can I extract IP’s from a file I’m downloading?

If you start downloading a file with K-Lite, it writes a .dat-file in your incoming folder (My Shared Folder). In the .dat file are some information saved. We want the information about the SN where the sources are connected. You can choose the option "Extract IP’s of .dat file" and get the SN of your sources, so you can find again your sources and connect near to your sources.

To do this, go to File, "Extract IP’s of .dat file" and the IP’s will show up on the screen.

How can I change the language?

Go to Options and select one of the languages provided 

What do the different settings do?

Switch to this Kazaa window after supernode hopping: Traffic or Searching – This option allows you to decide if you want the traffic or the searching tab to be displayed after you switch supernodes.

Max connections for status checking and localizing

Number of supernodes that are checked at a time (‘check status’ function) – In the provided box, enter the number of supernodes that you want to be checked at once when you check the status of the supernodes in a supernode list.

Number of supernodes that are localized at a time - In the provided box, enter the number of supernodes that you want to be localized at once when you localize one of the supernodes in the New Supernode box.

Set Default Values – restores the default values

Timeout Values For Status Checking

Supernode List – Select how many seconds should be considered a timeout when using the status check in your supernode list.

Favorites - Select how many seconds should be considered a timeout when using the status check in your favorites list.

Superlist ­­- Select how many seconds should be considered a timeout when using the status check in your SuperList.

Set Default Values – restores the default values

Auto Sort (Automatically sort the Supernode list by status and response time after status checking) – Sorts your supernode list by status and response time after checking the status of the supernodes.