About Bandwidth

Note: ResCom does not make bandwidth policy. ResCom is your liaison between you and other PSU departments at University Park campus. ResCom will help residence hall students understand and comply with university and Housing network policies. ResCom will troubleshoot computer related issues and communicate with other departments to resolve issues by appointment or at the help desks.

Bandwidth limits, policies and security shutdowns are mandated by other departments at PSU. Bandwidth violation and warning emails are sent from the ResCom email account to the resident hall student so the student can get help and solve the issue

This chart shows examples of how many files it would take to go over the bandwidth limits if all you did was one of the things listed here. In reality a student uses a combination of these activities during the week.

Note:  File sizes listed are estimates.  Actual size can vary based on a variety of factors, including resolution, sampling quality, and compression.

A student should be able to stay under the weekly limits if they use the Internet with moderation and if they take advantage of wireless networks in public or common areas around campus instead of doing everything through their room connection.

Remember, if what you are doing on your room connection requires the Internet (off campus only), it will count against your weekly limits. If you watch TV on-line, web cam, listen to the radio on-line, watch a lot of YouTube videos or any other heavy Internet activity, use the public wireless areas around campus instead of your room connection. You should be able to avoid bandwidth violations.

If you get a violation, please do not ignore them, come to the ResCom desk and ask questions. A few minutes to as a few questions will save you aggravation and connection disruption so please come ask us questions.

Bandwidth violations may only be appealed after receiving a 4th time violation. Appeals start at your local Relief office.

Can't find your question here? Try the ResCom FAQ or the ITS FAQ!

1. What is bandwidth?
2. What does upload and download mean?
3. Why is PSU restricting the use of my network connection?
4. What is being measured or monitored?
5. Is Penn State Connecting to my computer?
6. What are the bandwidth limits?
        Bandwidth Comparison Chart
7. Will Penn State considering changing the limits?
8. How can I reduce my bandwidth consumption?
9. There is no way I used 10 Gigabytes. I can't be downloading or uploading that much. There must be something wrong with your system. Why am I getting the emails?
10. I've kept track of how much music I've downloaded this week and it's below 10 Gigabytes. Why did I get a violation?
11. What happens if I ignore the violation and warning notices?
12. Everyone copies music and movies.  Why should I be concerned?  What happens if I get caught having or possessing copy written movies or music on my computer?
13. How can I monitor my bandwidth usage?
14. Why didn't I receive a warning before receiving a violation notice?
15. I checked my totals online and I'm still within my limits, but I got a violation.  How is this possible?
16. Can you tell me exactly what I uploaded or downloaded?
17. Why doesn't ResCom backup MP3's and movies on student machines?
18. Is there any way to appeal that bandwidth violation?
19. A virus infected my machine and that's what caused me to go over my limit for the week. It wasn't really my fault. Can I get this violation reversed?
20. What is the difference between Megabits and Megabytes? What do I need to look for?
21. Can I still use Napster?

Question:  What is "Bandwidth"?

Answer:  Bandwidth is determined by the medium used and transmission speed of the networking equipment or Internet.  Bandwidth is often referred to as a pipe.  The pipe transports data back and forth between your computer and the Internet. You use bandwidth to view web pages and send data out from your computer (upload) or receive data into your computer (download).

The residence halls use Ethernet connections to communicate over the network to the Internet. You can send a large picture, download PSU supported legal music / video, in seconds. 

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Question:  What does upload and download mean?

Answer:  Upload is defined as the process of sending data generated from your computer out to the Internet or other computer on your network.

Download is defined as the process of receiving data from the Internet or other computer on your network. This also includes streaming audio or video and web cam activities.

The University monitors or totals the amount of upload and download Internet bandwidth (traffic consumer or generated) for each residence hall student using their Ethernet connection per week. This total is compared to the Universities weekly limits.

Note:  The University is not looking at the content of data being sent—only counting the amount of Internet bandwidth used per residence hall connection.

If you send data (information) from your computer up to the Internet, that is uploading.
If you receive data (information) from the Internet to your computer, that is downloading. You don't have to download "a file" for it to be considered downloading. Streaming audio and video to your computer from the Internet is also downloading.

Normal Internet use such as text web browsing (graphics use more than text), and e-mail without large attachments generate small amounts of download and upload activity.  Computers sharing music or movies, watching TV on-line, using web cams, transferring information over FTP (file transfer protocol), using Torrent programs or file-sharing clients such as LimeWire, BearShare, Imesh, Audiogalaxy, WinMX, game server connections or any other Internet active programs generate a significant amount of bandwidth.

Check your current bandwidth consumption by clicking the link.

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Question:  Why is Penn State restricting the use of my network connection?

Answer:  Restrictions in the residence halls have been implemented because of the enormous bandwidth consumption, caused by the popularity of watching TV on-line use of web cams, gaming on-line and music / video sharing. Little if any of this activity has academic purpose but in reality is what the students use their connection for.

The demand for bandwidth constantly grows exponentially. It becomes impossible to do simple things like swipe to get into a building, swipe for food, receive e-mails or do academic work over the room connection. Implementing the bandwidth restrictions have successfully reduced the residence hall demand and restored the connection speed to a more reasonable level.

Housing and the Telecommunications and Networking Services work together to implement individual bandwidth restrictions. Analysis showed the residence hall population makes up a small percentage of the total student population at PSU. This percentage was consuming so much of the bandwidth that it affected faculty, staff, administrative personnel, and other essential equipment used by departments around campus. 

At the time the limits were imposed music sharing with the world proved to be the major reason for students going over their limits. Other devices such as web cams, on-line streaming media (ESPN streaming sports broadcasts, podcasts, etcetera) and web phones and on-line high definition TV continue to consume bandwidth that place students over the bandwidth limits.

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Question:  What is being measured or monitored?

Answer:  Each residence hall connection is monitored for total Internet upload and download usage or traffic. The equipment is extremely accurate and reliable.  Penn State monitors totals and does not monitor content.

A computer process runs every 8 hours that compares a residence hall students current total Internet upload and download activity to the current bandwidth limits and then sends any appropriate e-mail (only to the students PSU e-mail account).

Every residence hall student is responsible for all upload and download activity through their room connection.  Even if your roommate uses your computer, with our without your permission or if your computer becomes infected with a virus, the student registered to that connection is responsible for that activity.

University policy AD-20 states students must be in control of their computer at all times. The student registered to that connection must keep their computer virus free, secure from compromise and configured so it doesn't go over the bandwidth limits. ITS provides students with a FREE Antivirus program to prevent virus attacks.  It is up to the student to load it on their computer. ResCom would be happy to help any resident hall student install the software.  

Check your current bandwidth consumption by clicking the link.

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Question:  Is Penn State connecting to my computer?

Answer: NO. This data is collected at the equipment level. Bandwidth usage is automatically collected as your data is put on or taken off of the Internet where Penn State connects to the Internet. No connection is ever made directly to your computer to determine your bandwidth usage.

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Question:  What are the limits? 

Answer:  The limit is 10 gigabytes of information uploaded (data sent out) and 10 gigabytes downloaded (received data) over the Internet per week. This does not include local on campus network traffic as long as the entire path remains within the psu.edu domain or stays on campus only.

As you use the Internet, your traffic (bandwidth) is being totaled. 3 times per day your totals are checked by a program and compared to the current bandwidth limits. At that time the program determines if any action needs to be taken. If you are between 60and 99.9% of the bandwidth limit, it will send you a warning. If your computer is always on and is consuming bandwidth while you sleep or at class or gone from your room, the next time the program runs you could receive a violation notice. Please take warnings seriously. You may receive several warnings during the week or you may use bandwidth so fast you may not get a warning at all; it will just send you the violation notice in that case.

If the program determines you have gone over the limits, it will issue a violation notice and change your connection speed to 56K limit for the rest of the week. That doesn't sound that bad but all the high speed users have priority over a restricted 56K connection. It will take a long time to load a web page.

For the first 2 violations your connection speed will be restored to normal speed sometime early Sunday morning. Once a student receives a 3rd violation, the connection will remain at the restricted speed for the remainder of the semester. There is no way to get this reversed so be careful not to violate the third time.

It is possible that a student could go over the limits a 4th time and if this happens the students connection is turned off all together and their wireless privilege are revoked around campus as well.

Note: TNS has imposed a cap on Internet traffic during the workday hours and opened more after hours for the residence hall students to consume.

Check your current bandwidth consumption.

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Question:  Will Penn State consider changing the limit?

Answer:  The University reviews the bandwidth limits and has increased the limits as funding allows and when possible. The limits will continue to be monitored and evaluated as time goes on.

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Question: How can I reduce my bandwidth consumption?

Answer:  The largest bandwidth consuming applications have proven to be watching HD TV or on-line streaming video, music / video torrenting or file-sharing web caming, on-line telephone and more. The following can be helpful to reduce your bandwidth consumption.

1. Use public wireless areas or computer labs around campus to do high bandwidth usage activities instead of your room connection. You don't have to use your room connection for everything. Using bandwidth in common wireless areas or computer labs do not count against your weekly bandwidth limits so it is a good idea to take advantage of that free bandwidth.

2. Disable all music sharing and shut down file shares. Even better just uninstall the programs. By default, most music sharing programs allow unlimited users to connect to your computer to copy your music. Every file they copy through your computer connection counts against your bandwidth limits. There is often more than one place to disable sharing features. Some music and video sharing programs do not allow you to disable the sharing features. The only answer in that case is to uninstall the program so they do not continue using your bandwidth without your knowledge.

3. Disable IPv6 Tunneling through IPv4. This affects Windows Vista / Windows 7 users and Macintosh users. Please contact ResCom at UP campus or your computer support team at your commonwealth campus.

4. Turn off your computer when not in front of your computer. Simply turn off your computer when you are not in front of it. You are responsible for all traffic going in and out of your computer. Check with ResCom before loading programs on your computer to see if there are any bandwidth or configuration concerns that need to be considered. Several sharing programs and programs like Skype use bandwidth in the background so it pays to ask about a program before installing it. Use programs at your own risk.

5. Choose not to send files through Instant Messenger. Any file sent through AOL IM or other instant messenger programs use the Internet and counts against your weekly bandwidth limits even if you are sending a file to your room mate or person down the hall. Network Neighborhood and file sharing is not supported in the residence halls.  ResCom suggests sending files through PSU Webmail or better yet burn CDs with the information as long as it doesn't violate copy rights.

6. Make sure your computer is not infected by a virus that allows others to remotely access your computer without your knowledge. Viruses could also e-mail themselves out to others listed in your email contacts. It could also count against your bandwidth limits. PSU provides FREE Antivirus software and is available for all PSU students. It does not expire and is set to automatically update its definition files on a weekly basis.

7. Do not run any type of Server.  This could allow other people to download files from your computer.  Running as a server on your computer or room connection is a direct violation of the Residence Hall Connection Agreement and University Networking Policies AD-20 and AD-23.

8. Use a personal firewall.  A firewall is basically what it sounds like - it acts as a filter for information coming in and out of your computer.  It is a tool that gives you control over what programs are allowed to use the Internet and prevents any unwanted activity. Windows and Macintosh computers have built-in firewall software and should be used.

9. Use the PSU e-mail servers to send and receive your e-mail. We recommend you use PSU email or PSU Web mail because this does not effect your bandwidth limits even through it is through a residence hall connection.  If you do not use PSU email servers, all e-mail traffic will count against your bandwidth limits. Popular programs like Gmail, Hotmail, AOL, Yahoo and any others not mentioned all require the Internet and count. Residence hall students should forward their Internet e-mail to their PSU e-mail account to avoid bandwidth violations.

10. Uninstall unnecessary protocols that might be loaded in your network configuration. Remove the IPX/SPX or NETBEUI protocols. The only protocol you should be using is TCP/IP. Network Neighborhood is not supported in the residence halls.

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Question:  There is no way I used 10 Gigabytes. I can't be downloading or uploading that much. There must be something wrong with your system.   Why am I getting the emails?

Answer:  The equipment that monitors and reports your totals is extremely accurate. 

Check your current bandwidth consumption.

The traffic is totaled at the point your traffic is put onto or received from the Internet. It commonly maintains totals for almost 16,000 students during a typical semester. If you received a warning or violation notice then it is because you have indeed gone over the limits.

There are many reasons this can happen. Most of the time it is because a student has "chosen" to install a music / video sharing program and did not find all the places to disable sharing. There are programs that you cannot turn off super node type of sharing and simply need to be uninstalled. This responsibility is solely on the residence hall student.

Another common reason this can happen is a resident hall student will allow another student to use or configure their computer. Allowing another student to use your computer is your "choice"; however it needs to be understood that you are 100% responsible for all traffic generated through your port. There are no exceptions.

Some students have reported that a roommate has used their computer without their knowledge. It is the student's responsibility to secure their computer from unauthorized use. Loading a secure operating system like Windows NT or XP is recommended. It is university policy that you do not share your passwords with others.

Many students have gone over their limits because they use AOL IM to transfer files. This requires you to go out of the PSU network and communicate over the Internet. We do not recommend that you regularly use AOL IM to transfer files. Use it at your own risk because your traffic is being totaled and reported every 8 hours. 

Please do not assume you know why you received a violation or warning notice. Ask questions right away to prevent other violations. These violations cannot be reversed. You may have downloaded a lot, however you may also have installed a program that needs to be configured properly. You may not know about it till your next violation occurs and it may be too late. ResCom or your local Residential Computing office will be happy to review any questions you have about the subject.

Please read the answers to the question "How can I reduce my bandwidth consumption". This will help every residence hall student.

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\Question:  I've kept track of how much music I've downloaded this week and it's below 10 Gigabytes. Why did I get a violation? 

Answer:  Every time you use your computer on the internet and you visit a website or check your email outside of the psu.edu domain, it counts against your total.  You may have only downloaded 1.4 Gigabytes so far, but normal web browsing, checking AOL or Hotmail mail accounts, watching streaming video, or running a web cam can put you over your limits.  Also, the music downloading programs installed on your machine use bandwidth without your knowledge unless configured properly. Make sure you take this into account when tracking your bandwidth usage.  

Check your current bandwidth consumption.

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Question:  Everyone copies music and movies.  Why should I be concerned?  What happens if I get caught having or possessing copy written movies or music on my computer?

Answer:  There are Federal and State laws that prohibit uploading and downloading of copy written music and especially movies. Students take all the risk for this practice on PSU networks. It is against University policy to transfer copy written material over PSU networks without express written permission of the materials owners. 

 

Question:  How can I monitor bandwidth usage?

Answer:  There are several personal firewall products and other utility programs on the market that can help you measure total bandwidth used but there are no programs that just distinguish your Internet traffic. Your Internet traffic totals are what determines if you violate the restrictions. 

Check your current bandwidth consumption.

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Question:  Why didn't I receive a warning before receiving a violation notice?

Answer:  It is possible that you used more than the bandwidth limit within an 8 hour period. When the process runs it will see that you have passed the limits and will send you a violation notice. You will only receive a warning notice only if you were determined to be within 60 and 99.9% of the limits when the program compares your totals. It does not send you a warning as soon as you reach 60%; the program determines if email needs to be sent when the program compares your totals. If you were close to the limits when the program checked your totals you could already be over your limits when you check your email. The best thing to do is turn off your computer when you are not using it.

The system now allows the students to check their current bandwidth consumption.

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Question:  I checked my totals online and I'm still within my limits, but I got a violation.  How is this possible?

Answer:  The bandwidth consumption page is not intended to give students a real time view of their usage.  It is not meant to be used as a "gas gauge"  It is only available as a guide so that students can have a "relative" idea of how much bandwidth they have used up to that point.  Just because the page says that you are within your limits does not mean that you actually are.  The graphs on the page can sometimes be representative of the totals collected from a previous run, and it is essential that you check the time and date of the run that is displayed on the page.  Similarly, the graphs will not automatically update as soon as the totals are collected, there is a delay.  Ultimately, the student is responsible for tracking their own usage on their computer, the consumption page is only a guide. 

   

Question:  Why doesn't ResCom backup MP3's and movies on student machines?

Answer:  ResCom has taken the stand that we will not illegally copy any copy written materials such as music and movies. Odds are the music and movie clips ARE copy written so ResCom will not backup music or movies files. All backup of data is the responsibility of the student. We prefer the student to backup their own data because we are not responsible for losing any student data.

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Question:  Is there any way to appeal the bandwidth limits?

Answer:  ResCom employees do not make policy or deal with appeals. There are no appeals for any violation except the 4th violation. Violations are not reversed for any reason so please be careful not to go over the limits. Check your current bandwidth consumption (as of the last spot check which happens three times per day or once about every 8 hours).  ResLife will listen to appeals for 4th time violators. Only extreme circumstances will be considered. Not knowing the policies or what programs consume large amounts of bandwidth are not grounds for appeal. Students need to realize there are consequences to going over the limits. These limits are enforced. Never ignore a warning or violation notice. Even if you think you know why it happened, chances are there are other things you have loaded or are doing on line that will put you over. Contact ResCom and ask as many questions as you need to in order to learn what you need to know. Please remember that you are the only person that can prevent your computer from going over the limits. There is a chance you could lose your connection speed or even the connection itself for the rest of the semester. If you receive a notice, ask questions and seek help.

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Question:  A virus infected my machine and that is what caused me to go over my limit for the week.  It wasn't my fault.  Can I get this violation reversed?

Answer:  No.  Each student is responsible for what happens to their machine when it is hooked up to the residence hall network.  Just because the virus was responsible for the network usage and you weren't, isn't grounds to reverse the violation.  Penn State makes Norton Antivirus Corporate Edition available to each student, faculty, and staff member. A student can load this onto their machine at any time.  It never expires and can be configured to constantly safeguard your machine from viruses at all times  It is the student's responsibility to load this program onto their machine and configure it properly.  You can schedule an appointment with your nearest ResCom desk is you need assistance installing this program.

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Question:  What is the difference between Megabits and Megabytes?  What do I need to look for?

Answer:  Megabits can be looked at like the letters of the alphabet. Megabytes can be looked at like words made up of the letters of the alphabet. Megabytes are made up of megabits. There is a formula to convert bits to bytes. People need to know what they are looking at, bits or bytes. Letters or words.

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Question:  Can I still use Napster?

Answer:  As of May 31, 2007 Napster is no longer officially supported or endorsed as the university's legal media downloading service.  Therefore, as of May 31, 2007, the use of Napster on your residence hall connection will count toward your weekly bandwidth limit. 

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Can't find your question here? Visit the other FAQ sections or visit Tech Support!

For information about The Pennsylvania State University Ethernet Request Form,
please contact: rescom@psu.edu.