Sharing Bandwith

[Rebuilt]

Hello thanks for taking the time to read this,

I will shortly be setting up a home network using a wireless router, providing access to the internet for upto 4 computers at any time (one of which will be wired into the router directly as it does not currently have a wireless card installed). Its important for the available bandwith to be shared equally between all 4 of us (I live in a house share). Will I need to use 3rd party software to manage these conections (I have a spare PC i can use as a gateway). This will be the first time I have attempted any thing like this and if anyone has any pearls of wisdom they want to share on the subject I would be very gratefull.

Cheers,

[homecomputeraid]

I don't know of an inexpensive way to accomplish what you're trying to do. :sad:

I'm not saying there isn't one, just that the devices I know of that can do such bandwidth control are pretty expensive.

Sincerly,

[Rebuilt]

Thanks for the reply Homecomputeraid,

Perhaps someone else knows of a reliable peice of free ware that can do what im looking for, as I say I have a spare PC i can install software onto. Failing that does any one know of a way of making sure I get the most bandwidth!!!!

[homecomputeraid]

I'm hoping someone will chime in with some kind of free linux or BSD based solution for you.

I found this program that seems to monitor bandwidth usage but doesn't appear to allow you to change it:

http://www.absolutefuturity.com/BBMonitor/...%20Software.htm

Any bandwidth control software I could find cost $. :dry:

[rong]

Is this to simple, but will it not split into two three or four depending upon who is using it at any time, hence if two people are using the connection at once they get half each e.t.c.

[dadyassa]

Is this to simple, but will it not split into two three or four depending upon who is using it at any time, hence if two people are using the connection at once they get half each e.t.c.

I always thought that happened.

[homecomputeraid]

Rong,

Bandwidth is normally kind of allocated on an 'as needed' basis in Ethernet. If you have two computers using a network, and one's doing something that demands a lot of bandwidth like moving a file, and the other then tries to use the network, it will seem slower to the second PC because the bandwidth's already being 'hogged' by the other PC.

While each has the potential to have half of the available bandwidth, the reality is it's pretty dynamic and constantly changing.

TCP uses a 'sliding window' to adjust bandwidth usage up and down, taking up as much as it can at any given time.

Regulating bandwidth in the corporate world, where I do most of my work, requires pretty sophisticated, expensive gear. It's sophisticated because it takes something pretty complex and makes it controllable and usable by someone with minimal knowledge.

There are free utilities available to do almost anything one would want to do concerning networking. The cost comes in the form of having to spend more time learning how to use the software, and learning more about how it actually works. It isn't as 'polished' as the expensive stuff.

As far as regulating bandwidth, I haven't found anything allowing you to do so in a quick Google search so far.

[homecomputeraid]

SmoothWall Corporate Version might be worth a try. It's relatively inexpensive and there's a module available that seems to allow bandwidth control.

[edit]Just found the Bandwidth Management piece. It's called SmoothTraffic.

[Rebuilt]

Again many thanks to homecomputeraid for taking this on,

Will have a read up on the product you have suggested and consider my options.

Cheers

[homecomputeraid]

You're most welcome. :biggrin:

Happy Holidays, and please let us know how things turn out.

[Scarecrow Man]

SmoothWall Corporate Version might be worth a try. It's relatively inexpensive and there's a module available that seems to allow bandwidth control.

[edit]Just found the Bandwidth Management piece. It's called SmoothTraffic.

SmoothWall was the first thing that popped into my head after reading the title of this topic.

This is an excellent Linux distro which acts as a Router, Firewall, and more! Possibly the only free solution (aside from a computer to run it).

Only other option I can think of, and I think HCA was thinking this as well, is a Cisco Router which can costs thousands of dollars.