Specify Bandwidth amount?? 2

[mystifying]

We have a VPN set up using two Netgear FVS318 routers. The secondary location has three users that connect via VPN and/or terminal services and also one IP phone connected to our phone system at our main location.

The problem we are running in to is the phone sometimes gets cut off when there is heavy network usage. This can often be in the middle of a call and it doesn't look good. I know the obvious answer is to add more bandwidth. Unfortunately, that isn't the owners favorite answer, as it means more $$. I was hoping there might be a way to 'set aside' a designated amount of bandwidth for the ip phone. Can bandwidth be designated like that? For instance, with 512k available can we say 128k is reserved for the phone, and the rest remains in a pool to be shared. Does that even make sense?

 

[AlexIT]

The FVS318 does not support bandwidth allocation. There are hardware products that do, but they are much more expensive. I was thinking that M$ ISA server has some of this functionality but I haven't installed one of these for this purpose.

Probably better to add another 512kb line or to bump the existing one to 1Mb. Or you can restrict your users external access to reduce their possible useage.

Alex

 

[gacollier]

mystifying,

You might try to find a proxy server that supports bandwidth throttling, that way you could have better control over a number of connection issues.

 

[mystifying]

Thank you both for your replies. I am seriously considering suggesting more bandwidth, although I know it isn't going to be what the owner wants to hear.

As far a a proxy server that supports bandwidth throttling, I would like to check into that. Is there one you would recommend? I only have a basic knowledge of proxy servers as far as what they do, so any advice on where to look/ what to look at would be greatly appreacited!

Thanks again for the help!

 

[gacollier]

Sorry for not getting back to you, I lost track of this post.

I beleive CC Proxy supprts bandwidth throttling.

http://www.youngzsoft.net/ccproxy/index.html

I believe you can do it with Squid as well:

http://www.squid-cache.org

Here are the instructs for Squid:

http://wireless.gumph.org/content/3/12/023-limited-bandwidth-sharing.html

Hope this helps, and good luck!

Greg