[ghochhalter]

I have a cable modem plugged into a wireless router. I have 2 Windows PCs plugged into the router (hard cabled) and support another three Windows PCs wirelessly. This works great.

The problem is, my son has an Apple computer. When he turns it on, my network slows way way down. If I look at the pc/activity light on the modem or the access lights on the router, they're blinking away like mad - it looks like they're off as much as they're on. As soon as he turns off this Apple (just shutting the lid does it), the lights go back to steady on and my network is speedy again.

I've read that Apples are chatty and of course the proponents pooh-pooh that. But, it really impacts my network, so much that I can't get stuff done when his computer is turned on.

Are there some settings or something on the Apple that can make it better behaved?

Thanks,

Greg

 

[avaquado]

Does your son do any torrenting or file sharing? I know that especially uploading can slow down home networks a ton.

 

[ghochhalter]

Well, I don't know what torrenting is, but I don't think so. I don't think he's sharing any files either. He doesn't even have to be there - if the lid is open, this thing eats the network. Soon as you close the lid, back to normal. He sometimes walks away from it, goes to work or whatever and its just sitting there, driving me crazy because the network is so slow.

 

[avaquado]

Torrenting is a file sharing network that basically splits up the file that is going to be shared and distributes different pieces of it to all the recipients. The the torrenting software shares all the pieces between the recipients thus reducing the stress on the main server. The downside to torrenting tho is that you have to upload the pieces you have also so it uses lots of bandwidth. The faster the download the faster you upload. This can easily slow down a home network.

You should ask him if he does that, then he could try to only use it when nobody else is on the network.

 

[ghochhalter]

Hmmm, I'll ask him, but it seems there something more basic. He's not even here now, but if I open the lid on that computer, my network slows down. I don't think its something he's doing, its something more basic about the connection. Its like the computer just keeps asking if the connection is alive, over and over again. I've heard Apples are "chatty", but this is really overboard.

 

[cjessee]

He doesn't have to be present at the computer in order for it to share files. If he has something like Kazaa, a file sharing program, then he may have not shut it down properly or just minimized it. This would allow the service to continue to run and would explain the problems you are having. Now, by opening the lid as you say, does this turn the computer on? Or is the computer on all of the time? I guess what I am asking is, does it go to standby mode when you close the lid? Any mac users out there that can help?

 

[ghochhalter]

I don't know if he's running file sharing - I'll ask him this evening. I also know next to nothing about Apple computers, but he's told me that shutting the lid "turns it off" and disconnects it from the internet connection. When you open the lid, it immediately starts bombarding my router and modem, so I don't think it actually reboots when you open the lid. I suspect closing the lid causes it to hibernate and opening the lid awakens it.

This thing is starting to drive me crazy and its a touchy subject - my son doesn't believe me and I'm at the point of throwing him off the router.

 

[ghochhalter]

In checking with my son, he IS running file sharing and perhaps torrenting, if that's the right term. He says he's downloading an album or two each day (but that can't be accounting for a ceaseless impact on my network, can it?). He also says he's limited it to 40K bandwidth, but it still killing me.

 

[V0lt]

Well, BitTorrent inherently generates an enormous amount of network traffic, regardless of what speed it's 'limited' to.

Imagine a room full of people. One person has a complete puzzle of thousands and thousands of clusters of data, which all form a file (or multiple files). This guy gives single pieces of it to other people in the room, and they pass out replicas of the pieces they receive, until everyone has the complete image. This is the concept behind torrenting: split the job of distribution up among all the users involved, so that no single machine needs to serve it to everyone. The thing is, these 'people' will be constantly asking each other whether or not they have a certain piece, requesting those pieces, etc.- and so it's not uncommon to be connected to 20 or 30 other computers at the same time.

Tell your son to keep the download speed at 'unlimited', but turn down the maximum number of simultaneous connections to around 10. If the torrent is 'seeded' well (if there are enough people with the completed puzzle), then he should have better speeds, and the network congestion should clear up noticeably.

 

[avaquado]

Yes, even if he has the upload speed limited he could still be potentially linked to a large numbers. Even if there is minimal data coming from those sources it still takes resources to keep all those connections open. Fox was right in saying that you should tell him to limit the connections.

Good luck.

 

[Cellus]

I've heard Apples are "chatty", but this is really overboard.

Apple computers used to be chatty, as the AppleTalk protocol suite advertised a lot. Wait, that wasn't enough emphasis - they advertised a lot.

These days however they mainly use TCP/IP, so they're not nearly as chatty.

EDIT: By the way, some forewarning. We can not assist you with any issues regarding P2P file sharing. Sorry but when it comes to that, the buck can not go any further. I can say however that your son should probably cut down on the P2P a bit.

 

[ghochhalter]

I understand you don't want to talk about P2P, but I'm curious why? I know nothing about it - is it something that shouldn't be done?

 

[cjessee]

P2P networking is typically illegal and this forum can't assist with illegal activities. Better hope your son doesn't get caught. Big fine.