Upload speed limit

Question

Level 1

148 points

Upload speed limit

Hello,

Is there any way to limit the upload speed?
I have aDSL2+ (20mb down 1 mb up). However, whenever I reach the max speed uploading files, the whole network starts to crumble... upload works fine but the download almost stops (i can't even surf the web; IM gets disconnected).

It's really annoying since I run a podcast and uploading the big audio files requires me to stop using the internet altogether.

A system-wide upload throttle which allows me to set the up speed to, say, 80kb/s would greatly improve my conection.

Any ideas?
thanks 🙂

Ps. The problem is entirely my ISP's fault - but I found that limiting the upload speed in windows (using Netlimiter) solved the problem. 🙂

MacBook 2ghz 2gb ram 80gb hdd, Mac OS X (10.4)

Posted on Apr 28, 2007 3:09 PM

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Answer 1

Klaus1

Level 9

52,879 points

Apr 28, 2007 3:14 PM in response to Jose M Olaya

The problem is entirely my ISP's fault

There is your answer! 🙂

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Answer 2

Jose M Olaya Author

Level 1

148 points

Apr 28, 2007 3:38 PM in response to Klaus1

Yep but i can't change ISP that easily 😉

Besides, Except for that little problem when uploading my podcast, the conection works fairly good. I get 20mb for 30 euros while the other ISP's in spain offer 3mb for 40 euro... a simple upload limit app would solve the problem altogether 😉

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Answer 3

BDAqua

Level 10

250,259 points

Apr 28, 2007 4:37 PM in response to Jose M Olaya

I knew you had a good reason! 😉

Might try WaterRoof...
http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/23317

It bombs for me, but someone else is using it to limit Bandwidth, so it might have some option like you want, dunno...
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=932909&tstart=60

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Answer 4

Jose M Olaya Author

Level 1

148 points

Apr 28, 2007 5:22 PM in response to BDAqua

Thanks for the link.. I downloaded Waterroof but it seems to limit overall bandwidth (both down and upload) rather than selective upload tuning.

Anyways, thanks and maybe some1 else knows of something! 🙂

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Answer 5

Apr 29, 2007 11:16 AM in response to Jose M Olaya

This is a little beyond my experience, but I know that WaterRoof is a front-end to ipfirewall. And ipfirewall uses dummynet to limit bandwidth. It should be possible to write a set of ipfw rules which only pipe upstream traffic to dummynet. In fact, it should be possible to take your existing rules and modify it so that only upstream traffic is affected. Means getting farther into ipfw than I've gone, though. Just a thought.

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Answer 6

Tim Haigh

Level 7

24,198 points

Apr 29, 2007 1:22 PM in response to Jose M Olaya

I can explain why you are getting this problem.

When you download packets of data your computer sends acknowledgments of the packets it is receiving back up the line. This is known as ACK data.

So if your upload is maxed out then there is no room for your ACK data and this will cripple your download speed.

The way to resolve this is to use traffic shaping or 'Quality of Service'QOS.

The best system would be to use a ADSL2+ router that supports QoS. Then you could set up rules to prioritise ACK data packets above any other types of outgoing data you use. If there is only 1 computer behind your adsl2+ modem that is uplaoding then you could run QoS software on your mac. Software such as throttled

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Answer 7

BDAqua

Level 10

250,259 points

Apr 29, 2007 1:36 PM in response to Tim Haigh

WOW, great Solution Tim... thanks! 🙂

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Answer 8

Jose M Olaya Author

Level 1

148 points

Apr 30, 2007 12:59 AM in response to Tim Haigh

Wow! 🙂
Thanks a lot for the tech info! It certainly makes sense. I have downloaded throttled and will give it a try tonight when i'm at home.

Thanks again!
Jose.

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