Fifteen years ago, users could manually download a server.met file once a month and be fine. Today, that approach is suicidal for your download queue. Here is why manual updates fail:
Auto-updating solves all of these problems. It ensures your client fetches a fresh, vetted list frequently, purging dead entries and adding new, verified nodes.
@echo off set EMULE_CONFIG=C:\Program Files\eMule\config set BACKUP_DIR=%EMULE_CONFIG%\backup set SERVER_MET_URL=https://www.emule-security.org/serverlist/server.metREM Create backup copy "%EMULE_CONFIG%\server.met" "%BACKUP_DIR%\server_%date:~10,4%%date:~4,2%%date:~7,2%.met"
REM Download new server.met (using PowerShell for TLS 1.2) powershell -Command "Invoke-WebRequest -Uri %SERVER_MET_URL% -OutFile %EMULE_CONFIG%\server_new.met -UseBasicParsing"
REM Merge or replace (replace is safer) copy /Y "%EMULE_CONFIG%\server_new.met" "%EMULE_CONFIG%\server.met"
REM Restart eMule (optional) taskkill /F /IM emule.exe timeout /t 2 start "" "C:\Program Files\eMule\emule.exe"
Example shell sketch:
#!/bin/sh
TMP=/tmp/servers.met
curl -sS -f -L https://example.org/server.met -o $TMP || exit 1
# optionally gpg --verify ...
# parse and merge using Python script or existing tools
To keep your eMule server list automatically up-to-date, follow these steps to configure the software to fetch a fresh list every time it starts. 1. Enable Auto-Update at Startup emule server list auto update
Open eMule and click the Options (or Preferences) button at the top. Select the Server section from the left-hand menu. Check the box labeled "Auto-update server list at startup". 2. Add a Server List URL
While still in the Server settings, click the List... (or Edit) button next to the auto-update option.
A Notepad window will open displaying a file named addresses.dat.
Paste a valid server.met URL into this file (e.g., from eMule Security or other trusted community sources). Save the file and close Notepad. 3. Recommended Connection Settings
To maintain a clean and functional list, adjust these additional settings in the same Server options tab:
Update serverlist when connecting to a server: Check this to allow eMule to receive new server info from the server you connect to.
Update serverlist when a client connects: Check this to exchange server info with other eMule users.
Set number of errors allowed: It is often recommended to set "Remove dead servers after [n] retries" to 9 to prevent valid servers from being deleted too quickly during temporary downtime. 4. Manual Update (If Needed) If your list is ever empty and auto-update fails: Go to the main Servers window. Fifteen years ago, users could manually download a server
Locate the box labeled "Update server.met from URL" on the right side. Paste your server list URL and click Update.
For further assistance with server connectivity or ID issues, you can refer to the official eMule Project Help or community guides on La vaca cega desconfiada. Updating the Server List - eMule Project
To automate the eMule server list update, you must configure the software to fetch a server.met file from a verified URL at every startup. This ensures you avoid "fake" servers that may index malicious or non-existent files. Configuration Steps for Auto-Update
Open Preferences: Navigate to Options (or Preferences) -> Server.
Enable Startup Update: Check the box for "Auto-update server list at startup". Specify the Source URL:
Click the List... (or Edit) button. This opens a text file named addresses.dat in your default text editor (usually Notepad).
Paste a verified server list URL into this file (see "Verified Sources" below). Save and Close the text file.
Confirm Settings: Click Apply or OK in the eMule Preferences window. Verified Server List Sources (2025-2026) Auto-updating solves all of these problems
The following URLs are widely recognized as reliable sources for clean server lists: eMule Security: http://upd.emule-security.org/server.met eMuling Gitlab: http://emuling.gitlab.io/server.met
Gruk.org: http://gruk.org (compression may require client support) Security Best Practices
To maintain a safe connection and prevent your list from being polluted by fake servers, adjust these additional settings: Server - eMule Project
It sounds like you’re referring to a method or feature for eMule (the peer-to-peer file-sharing client) where the server list automatically refreshes or updates itself — rather than requiring the user to manually download a new server.met file.
Here’s a breakdown of what that likely means, how it works, and why it can be useful (or risky).
In the evolving landscape of peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, eMule remains a titan of decentralization and efficiency. Unlike modern torrenting, which relies on trackers and DHT (Distributed Hash Tables) independently, eMule traditionally depends on eD2k servers to connect users, find sources, and facilitate searches. However, the ecosystem is volatile. Servers come and go; some are shut down by authorities, while others are honeypots.
This volatility brings us to the most critical maintenance task for any eMule user: eMule server list auto update. If your client connects to a dead or unreliable server, your download speeds plummet, your search results vanish, and your ability to share files is crippled. This guide will teach you everything you need to know about automating this process, ensuring you are always connected to the healthiest, most robust servers available.
For most users:
Optional advanced:
Cause: Your firewall or antivirus is blocking eMule from accessing the internet for the update process.
Fix: Add emule.exe to the whitelist in Windows Defender Firewall and any third-party AV software. Specifically allow outbound connections on port 80 and 443.