Limiting Bandwith on home network

[theboogwa]

Is there a way to limit the amount of bandwith to each computer on a home network sharing a single connection? That way one computer wont steal all the bandwith and leave the others hanging? Can it be done with a server or is it something that is done on a router or switch?

[jez2k]

I would like this answered too, as my dad is always complaining that I'm stealing all the bandwidth. Ideally, I'd like to share the bandwidth equally between the two PCs. If it helps, my router is a Belkin F5D5230-4 and there doesn't appear to be anything in the router settings to accomplish this.

[ErikD]

What you need to look for is a router that supports QoS - Quality of Service. It will let you share bandwidth out to soem extent. Many typicl consumer routers will have hacked firmwares available to add this feature. Another option is to go with a dedicated Smoothwall Linux based rotuer running on a spare PC. The choice really depends on how much control you want and how much you really need to enforce the policy.

Then there are the very expensive enterprise type routers which alos allow this. Really though nothing will give super control over this so that you could say split a 2Mb connection exactly evenly between two people.

[YeOldeStonecat]

Doesn't really work well with most routers...get a software package for the "offending" PCs...such as "Netlimiter".

[ErikD]

Doesn't really work well with most routers...get a software package for the "offending" PCs...such as "Netlimiter".

That only really works if the user of the offending computer is willing to go along with it. If they are a bit savvy I imagine it would be easy enough to just turn off the service, or stop it some way, and use all the nadwidth they like. But I tend to think more along the lines of what an enterprise solution would be.

Netlimiter is an excellent choice if everyone involved agrees to share evenly and play nice. Would work better than a typical, easy and cheap, router based solution.

[YeOldeStonecat]

That only really works if the user of the offending computer is willing to go along with it. If they are a bit savvy I imagine it would be easy enough to just turn off the service, or stop it some way, and use all the nadwidth they like. But I tend to think more along the lines of what an enterprise solution would be.

Very true...one would have to sneak it on and enforce it. Figured it work for the second post here..as he's seeking to keep his dad happy, and might respect who pays the bills 'n stuff..by keeping his PC under control.

For someone else who doesn't want to give up "all they can get"....agreed..tougher situation for home users.

[Shinobi]

Doesn't really work well with most routers...get a software package for the "offending" PCs...such as "Netlimiter".

Netlimiter is my favorite :thumb: