The maximum upload permitted from an on-campus computer to an off-campus location is 650 MB in a twenty-four hour period. If you exceed the bandwidth limit, you will receive the following e-mail message from Communications Network Services (CNS):
Subject: Excessive Upload Demand Activates Bandwidth Limits
The following notice is addressed to [residents] of [room] [buildingName]. A computer in your room using IP address [inetAddress] and connected to the Ethernet outlet identified as [room] [outletID] has sent more than 650MB of information into the network during the past 24 hours. As a result, the network capacity available to this computer has been restricted. To determine if this is your IP address, connect to http://www.software.ais.vt.edu/yourip/yourip.php while connected to the outlet in your room.
Outbound traffic from your (or your roommate's) computer must remain below 650MB for a 24-hour period for these limits to be reduced or removed. This action has been taken since network services are a shared resource, critical to the university's mission. In instances where individuals consume an excessive amount of network resources, they are in conflict with Virginia Tech's Acceptable Use Guidelines. More information is available at: http://www.cns.vt.edu/html/data/bandwidth.html.
The most common reason for this occurrence is computers serving peer-to-peer (p2p) or file-sharing applications, such as Morpheus, KaZaA, Gnutella or Limewire. In addition to generating a large volume of network traffic, these programs potentially put you in the position of illegally distributing copyrighted music, movies or software. For instructions on deleting a program of this type, please read Virginia Tech 4Help Knowledge Base article http://www.answers.vt.edu/ask4help/thirdparty/vtkb1386.htm. The second most common reason is your computer has been infected with a virus or trojan. Follow all 4 steps under the "CLEAN IT UP" section at http://antivirus.vt.edu to clean up your computer. The next most common reasons are on-line game playing and video/audio chatting. You may engage in any legal activity but your connection speed will be limited if more than 650MB of information a day is uploaded.
REMEMBER, unauthorized sharing of copyrighted files MUST BE immediately eliminated. If you require technical assistance with removing the file-sharing client or removing a virus, it is STRONGLY RECOMMENDED that you contact the Virginia Tech Computing Consultants at 4Help (540/231-4357 or http://4help.vt.edu/).
