Using multiple IP addresses for faster downloads

[Sadeq]

In our network, the administrator has chosen to limit each computers
traffic to 30 KB/s. Investigating the situation, we understood that
the limitations is enforced on IP addresses, i.e., each IP address is
limited to 30 KB/s.

As there are a vast number of unused IP addresses, we decided to
overcome this limitation by assigning several IP addresses to
important computers, such as servers (I know this may not seem the
best way, but we want to give it a try).

Searching several web pages, we learned how one can assign several IP
addresses to one NIC. The problem is, how to use these IPs. If we
could "force" some applications to use the "first" IP, and others to
use the "second" IP, the issue will be resolved. (By using an IP, I
mean using it as the "source" IP when sending packets).

How is that possible?

 

[Guest]

Hi Sadeq,

That isn't going to work for you as you'll not have a way to bid the NICs
together into a single group so that they'll be able to contribute to your
d/l speed. Your computer will also not have any ways to start additional d/l
threads across different addresses as you only have one gateway and at that
point it becomes a routing decision.
--
Ryan Hanisco
MCSE, MCTS: SQL 2005, Project+
http://www.techsterity.com
Chicago, IL

Remember: Marking helpful answers helps everyone find the info they need
quickly.

 

[Jack \(MVP-Networking\).]

Hi
Try to explain to the Net Admin why you need more than 30Kb/sec. (you do not
need more for regular surfing).
I'm sure that if you have a good explanation he would change the setting of
your IP.
Jack (MVP-Networking).

 

[Sadeq]

Thanks all!

@Ryan
I didn't get why it's impossible. Firstly, we don't have two NICs on
the server. There's only one NIC, which is assigned several IP
addresses. If there were some "download manager," which we could set
its "Source IP address" per each download, on the return path, the
"limiter" would find that different "sources" are downloading files.
It wouldn't detect that these different IP addresses correspond to the
same NIC (or better said, correspond to the same MAC address). At the
routing level, only different IP addresses are important; the router
does not investigate MAC addresses. Right?

@Jack
Unfortunately, the net admin does not undesrtand that a network is NOT
a homogeneous set of computers. We've described this for him before,
but he does not accept to allocate more bandwidth for servers. Too
lazy is he!

So, any other ideas?

 

[Guest]

You are right that you may be able to find some third party tool out there
that would be able to handle that. I will tell you that this would be a
fairly specialized application and you'd be hard pressed to come up with
something that does exactly what you need. In windows, there really isn't a
way to accomplish this without going to additional software.

So maybe impossible was the wrong way to put it, but rather, not without a
lot of work or very good luck finding a tool out there.
--
Ryan Hanisco
MCSE, MCTS: SQL 2005, Project+
http://www.techsterity.com
Chicago, IL

Remember: Marking helpful answers helps everyone find the info they need
quickly.

 

[Sadeq]

Thanks.
So, that might be possible. I'm hopeful that there exist someting like
the one I wanted.

Then, I'd better change my question to this:

Is anyone aware of any (3rd party) download manager which is able to
choose the source IP address, based on those configured on the NIC?

 

[Jack \(MVP-Networking\).]

Hi
As far as I know (and I know a lot about these issues), there is No way to
do this with regular hardware and Client OS.
In addition, if there is a "Miracle" way to do so, it is unknown how it
might affect the whole Network.
It you need the extra bandwidth for work and IT do Not cooperate then go
above them to management to make a case.
If you need extra, Bandwidth to download faster your "personal amusement
stuff" then you should think twice before you are trying to destabilize
business Network.
Jack (MVP-Networking).

 

[Sadeq]

It you need the extra bandwidth for work and IT do Not cooperate then go

above them to management to make a case.

The problem is that it's a university network, not a business network.
So, The IT staff are gods here ;(

If you need extra, Bandwidth to download faster your "personal amusement
stuff" then you should think twice before you are trying to destabilize
business Network.

No, in fact, there is a shared server on which all students can
schedule their downloads. So, a limitation of 30 KB/s for over 500
students is not acceptable at all.



One good news is that I found a famous downloading program, called
"wget," which seems to be able to do the thing I want. (wget is a
linux program, but there are ported versions to Windows). wget has the
following command line switch (the info is taken from a web page):

`--bind-address=ADDRESS'
When making client TCP/IP connections, bind() to ADDRESS on the local
machine. ADDRESS may be specified as a hostname or IP address. This
option can be useful if your machine is bound to multiple IPs.

Any ideas?

 

[V Green]

The problem is that it's a university network, not a business network.
So, The IT staff are gods here ;(

No, in fact, there is a shared server on which all students can
schedule their downloads. So, a limitation of 30 KB/s for over 500
students is not acceptable at all.

Idiot.

To you, maybe, it's "not acceptable", but
it's NOT YOUR NETWORK to screw with.

If you want faster, go get and pay for it yourself.

 

[Guest]

Sadeq,

Just be careful with this as all of your NICs are bound to the same MAC
address and will get the same ARP resolution. Usually, network
administrators will have the switch fabric set to shut down ports that are
doing what you're planning to do and any good network monitoring software
will flag the unusual activity. You will not be flying under the radar.

I agree with everyone else and will reiterate the message: just because you
can do something doesn't mean that it should be done. You really are best to
go through the proper channels. If there is a business reason to have more
bandwidth, you will get it. If not, then you won't. Remember that you may
not have all the facts to come to the right decision yourself, but your
ultimate success will lie in being persuasive and making a credible case for
your need.
--
Ryan Hanisco
MCSE, MCTS: SQL 2005, Project+
http://www.techsterity.com
Chicago, IL

Remember: Marking helpful answers helps everyone find the info they need
quickly.

 

[smlunatick]

The problem is that it's a university network, not a business network.
So, The IT staff are gods here ;(


No, in fact, there is a shared server on which all students can
schedule their downloads. So, a limitation of 30 KB/s for over 500
students is not acceptable at all.

One good news is that I found a famous downloading program, called
"wget," which seems to be able to do the thing I want. (wget is a
linux program, but there are ported versions to Windows). wget has the
following command line switch (the info is taken from a web page):

`--bind-address=ADDRESS'
When making client TCP/IP connections, bind() to ADDRESS on the local
machine. ADDRESS may be specified as a hostname or IP address. This
option can be useful if your machine is bound to multiple IPs.

Any ideas?

Since this is an acedemic network, you should not try to by-pass the
"rules" / "limits" with-out first contacting the admins. If they find
out your are "abusing" the network access, they can, and will, cut
your access off.