Best of the ISP-Lists

Napster Without File-Sharing?

Several members of the ISP-Wireless list are dealing with bandwidth problems by asking Napster users to turn file-sharing off.

On the ISP-Wireless list in October, LU complained,

"Now that we have several customers using high speed connections, Napster is becoming an issue. What are most of you doing about it? I would think that it would be best to allow Napster downloads, but disallow Napster uploads: has anyone tried this?"

A number of respondents shared ways of dealing with the problem:

[JM offered] "We don't disallow Napster uploads, but when we see it, we call the customer and tell them they're chewing up their paid-for bandwidth on behalf of people they don't even know. They're usually quite glad to turn Napster's file-sharing off."

[AS recounted] "I sent a newsletter to the people using Napster, explaining that they were free to download; however, if they wanted to serve, they would have to purchase a plan that supported 24/7 uploading. I also explained that if the serving wasn't toned down, I would block all Napster ports. I had two people change plans so they could upload at 384K 24/7; all the rest called and asked for help on stopping the serving capabilities."

[AM suggested] "I envision a hybrid method that combines usage-based accounting and packet shaping. Let's say a user goes over 1MB. A nightly script would pick this up and automatically configure a packet shaper to throttle that IP back to 56k. At that time the user can agree to pay for more bandwidth, or else let the remainder of the month expire. Then, when his next billing date arrives, you remove the IP from the packet shaper and let him suck down another 1MB. This way, the normal users will never notice anything but top speed, and only the abusers are affected."

SH countered that there's something wrong with blocking one specific service:

"I don't like the idea of blocking Napster or limiting it at all. If it's that much of a problem, charge by the packet, and mom and dad will curb the Napster usage for you. Instead of limiting a specific service or port, limit based on how much money they pay."

Others suggested a range of commercial solutions to deal with the problem:

[BB noted] "We're using PacketShaper, at www.packeteer.com. Works very well."

[AM added] "I took the liberty of compiling a list of possible alternatives to the PacketShaper:

• CrossKeys Systems Corp.
• ET/BWMGR Bandwidth Manager
• Lightspeed Systems
• BroadIP Networks
• Service Strategy Inc.'s GuardianPro
• Amplify.net
• Check Point's FloodGate-1 Solution
• Sun's Bandwidth Product Family

There's probably something for everyone in a list this long."

[KM observed] "Napster has compiled a nice list of their own."

—End