Bandwidth

1200 West University Ave.·Mitchell, SD 57301·www.dwu.edu
605-995-2697
email: helpdesk@dwu.edu

Network bandwidth is a shared common resource. Students who abuse this resource are sapping bandwidth from their peers. Please keep your usage of Kazaa© v2 at a minimum and within the legal boundaries. Please also be aware that Kazaa© and other file sharing applications allow other users from around the world to download files *from you*, off of your bandwidth, which adds to the overall load on the network.
CNS strongly recommends that all users disable the file sharing option. If you insist on using Kazaa© Media Desktop please take the steps outlined below to minimize your impact on the network.

What is Bandwidth

Bandwidth is the total capacity (volume and speed) of a wire. In other words, it is the maximum rate at which data can flow between computers. You can think of bandwidth as a pipe. A four-inch pipe allows more fluid through at higher speeds than a one-inch pipe. Likewise, a wire with more bandwidth not only allows faster data transmission, but increases the number of users that can achieve that speed.

Close Kazaa©
When you close your Kazaa© window the Kazaa© program remains running on your computer. This uses up your bandwidth bringing you closer to having a bandwidth limit placed on your computer and slowing down the network for all other users.
To actually SHUT OFF Kazaa©, find the Kazaa© icon in the system tray (the area in the lower right corner of your screen near the clock), right-click on it and choose "Close Kazaa Media Desktop."

Kazaa Tools Menu

Limit Uploads
You can greatly reduce the network load by limiting the number of simultaneous connections to your Kazaa© share. The default setting is unlimited!
Begin by opening the "Tools" menu and selecting "Options..."

Kazaa Tools Menu

From the Kazaa© Media Desktop Options control panel select the "Traffic" tab. In the center of the panel is a section titled "Limits." In this section you can define the maximum number of simultaneous downloads and uploads. The default for downloads is 3, this is an acceptable setting. The default for uploads however is set to unlimited this setting should be changed to one (1). At this setting you are using the minimum bandwidth while still sharing files. This will prevent you from being blocked by other Kazaa© users.

Limit the maximum number of simultaneous uploads

Limit Bandwidth
You can greatly reduce the network load by limiting the amount of bandwidth dedicated to outbound Kazaa© connections. The default setting is unlimited!

Begin by opening the "Tools" menu and selecting "Options..."

Kazaa Tools Menu

From the Kazaa© Media Desktop Options control panel select the "Advanced" tab. The second setting controls the maximum bandwidth in kilobits. Change the setting to read "32", this roughly equivalent to a dial-up telephone connection. This does NOT affect your download speed.

Limit the maximum bandwidth dedicated to outgoing connections

While you are on the "Advanced" tab you should also place a check mark in the setting "Do not function as a 'Supernode'." And remove the check mark from the setting "Optimal bandwidth use when computer is idle."

Do not function as a Supernode

Virus Protect
The default Kazaa© installation disables virus protection on all folders that are shared through Kazaa©, this is completely unacceptable! To re-enable virus protection in Kazaa© follow the directions below.
Virus protection is a necessity. All students, staff and faculty members at DWU are eligible to install Norton© Antivirus software free of charge.

Begin by opening the "Tools" menu and selecting "Options..."

From the Kazaa© Media Desktop Options control panel select the "Traffic" tab. The bottom setting controls virus scanning of shared folders. To enable virus scanning of shared folders simply remove the check mark.

Enable virus scanning of shared folders