Internet Traffic Problem

[shun23]

Hello to all internet/computer gurus in here! This would be my first post. :)
I would like to know if you could help me with a problem that has been
around in an Internet cafe. The administrators have noticed that because of the
high traffic in the cafe, many users are complaining because their connection is too slow and they need to use high speed applications like webconferencing, chat and voiceIP. This is due to the constant download of music through P2P programs like KaZaa by a big group of custumers who only use this service exclusively to download their large files and music.
However, the administrators do not want to restric this capability, like for example blocking the P2P channel in the Internet connection. So they want to implement a new network configuration. They are currently using 2 switches connected to a router and this switches are connecting 25 computers with one 1Mbps Internet service. So they only want to distribute the traffic equally to all the computers in the network so everybody can use the service at a consistent speed. Can this be done with a network device or a new network config?
What would you suggest?
Regards,
-shun23-
:thumb:

[thepieman]

First of all Kazaa is one of the biggest carriers of spyware and virii,it would be a big mistake to allow anything of that sort on your network. I restrict any type of P2p activity in my cafe as it drains too much bandwidth. Streaming music, and videos is fine, and even lan based games or internet games but P2p will kill your entire internet bandwidth, plus it will leave you open to spyware. I am constantly scanning and wiping out the systems at my cafe because even if one thing gets through it can kill the performance on the computer. I strongly suggest against p2p in an internet cafe.
If you have 2MB down/384k up and one guy is downloading a 2GB file on Kazaa at a rate of 250kbps and uploading to share at a rate of 39kbps...your whole internet is taken up by that one machine.

Pie

[YeOldeStonecat]

Trying to segment your network via 2x switches...to form some sort of 1/2way VLAN...or whatever you're trying to accomplish by using 2x switches...will not change your internet speed. All traffic is still ultimately going through your gateway (the router).

Besides the whole bag of garbage those P2P applications bring to computers (infested with ad/spy/malware/trojans/worms)...they absolutely overwhelm broadband routers, there are simply too many concurrent connections with them..the modest CPU and RAM on broadband routers get maxed out..and the router is brought to it's knees. It's not so much the download rate...is the fact that this software downloads bit 'n pieces from many different computers out there...so a single P2P download, the router is dealing with many different connections at once. Even just one or two computers running those P2P apps will do that...not to mention a whole network full of them.

[shun23]

Thank you experts for your opinions, Pie and StoneCat.
Now I get it, that if the majority of computers are using the p2p software it will be very difficult to manage the network, so it will be better to ban those programs via user privileges, am I right? :cool:
Now another thing, if changing the configuration from switches to HUBs for example, doesn't change the traffic distribution and the router keeps this function, can a firewall be added to do this? Or is it not possible to segment the bandwidth, let's say 80Kbps per each machine? Would I need a different router for each machine? :cry:
A friend of mine suggested to change the input line to a "Clear Channel" one, what would be different in this case?:confused:
More comments will be happily accepted.
Best regards!
-shun-

[mekal]

hello guys;
i've got a problem w my network ,i have a small network at home which connects three pcs together via swich ,,,after i formated my pc the other computers ain't able to connect the internet through my pc i made all demanded steps ,,now i want to let em connct the internet through my pc ,so who can let me know whats to do step by step n i will be v gr8ful .

thank u for reading my message
mekal

[shun23]

Hey mekal buddy, I don't think your reply has anything to do w my post, anyhow I think you should specify your OS and network configuration more in detail.:rtfm: