However for sending files it depends how you send the file – many instant messengers actually send files via a remote server rather than directly.

Nick.

Cheers.

Some changes we are planning next term mean that they would be counted at that point.

We don’t think that is a big issue, as ResNet-fluff traffic (or indeed ResNet to anywhere on campus except the webcaches) is insignificant compared with the rest of the traffic.

There is a 100MB filesize limit on fluff, so you’d have to use fluff 100 times in a week to use up the quota.

Have a look at the graph

The topmost line is this year so far, and you’ll see how much more data is being served compared to last year (the next line down). (Note that the graph ties into the academic year, with 1st Sept on the left and 31st August at the right.)

Martin Radford, PC Systems Specialist (and Proxy Server Admin)

We certainly expect usage to increase year on year. We will revise the bandwidth quota from time to time. It might go down at times, but the long term trend will be to increase it.

On what basis do we set and revise the quota?

Ultimately the quota is there to help us maintain and improve the network by reducing congestion. We will be as generous with the quota as we can – if we have the bandwidth available to increase the quota and still have the network perform well then we will. The University’s total Internet connection is upgraded at intervals, and ResNet’s share of that tends to rise along with that.

The policy is designed to reduce the usage of a small number of people in order to improve the connection for the majority of people on ResNet. We will make sure that the quota always affects less than 10% of ResNet users.

Finally, we want to be competitive with other broadband providers wherever we can. A 10GB quota a week is 43GB a month, and compares well with the more generous commercial broadband providers who have quotas in the 20GB-40GB a month range.

1) Is 10GB the limit for upload+download? or is it 10gb up, 10gb down?

Answer from Mark: We calculate usage (as most ISPs do) based on total traffic = upload+download.

2) How much over the limit constitutes earning a warning? Will I be warned for, say, 10.01GB? or more like 11 or 12 GB?

Answer from Mark: You will be warned for 10.01GB as it is done using scripts. There is little point putting a limit if we don’t mean it

3) Do we only get one warning? or does a week under the limit reset everything. E.g. if I overuse one week and get warned, then stay under for a week, then go over again, will I get another warning or will I be moved to the ‘heavy user’ segment? I ask because my internet use is very variable, and although I don’t expect to go over regularly, I’m aware it may happen occationally.

Answer from Mark: You will get a warning every time you go over the limit and were under the week before. Best to explain this using a silly example. If I downloaded 10,000GB (not exactly possible but I did say it was a silly example) in 7 days (Monday 1st to Sunday 6th) then I would expect to get an email on Monday 7th giving me an opportunity to reduce my usage between Monday 7th and Sunday 13th. If I lower my usage to below 10GB (lets say 9GB) then I will not be moved onto the restricted network. If I didn’t reduce my usage and racked up 11GB in the second week then I would expect to be moved onto the restricted network. If my usage continued to be over 10GB then I would stay in the restricted network. Once you drop below 10GB in a week then it’s like jumping back in time to Monday 1st

I think the system is a bit heavy-handed, but I’m pleased to hear that it’s not going to be a straight cut-off if you go over.