[LARTC] tc - in an abnormal LAN

[Andreas Klauer]

On Tuesday 04 October 2005 21:06, Ian stuart Turnbull wrote:
> My network is slightly different to the normal.
>
> I have a router with 4 ports DSL-D504T. In the house where I live 3
> other people have Win-XP machines on the 3 ports of the router. I have
> the other port and my machine runs Linux.

Your network is normal, you just want to do things the wrong way.

> One of the guys in particular downloads movies all the time. Naturally
> they do not want a normal LAN where my Linux is the main server.

I wouldn't want /your/ Linux either, because that way everyone is offline 
whenever your box is not operational. You should keep a dedicated router 
with QoS capabilities, and although Linux based would be nice, it's not an 
absolute requirement.

However, concerning the downloads all the time guy in particular, let me 
tell you a story (even though I'm not good at storytelling).

I lived in a flat together with 4 other people, and we shared one DSL line. 
At the time, I needed to use Telnet/SSH a lot, and it was super laggy, 
because the others downloaded stuff.

Now, we already had a Linux router, so it might have been a little easier 
for me, but that's beside the point. After a lot of trial & error and with 
help from LARTC I set up a proper QoS on the router, and everyone in the 
flat benefitted from it, even the guys who downloaded all the time, for 
one simple reason:

Without QoS, they couldn't do things like chatting or gaming while 
downloading either, and the net was super slow for them as well. And 
downloads still go at full speed most of the time (because most of the 
time, people are sleeping, or at uni / work), downloads only need to go a 
little slower while others want to use the net too.

So you can be fair to others and still benefit from it.
If your roommates don't get that, kick them out.

HTH
Andreas