Question on downloading / internet usage

[White16valver]

Ok, it's looking like work might be about to get s**tty and start blocking websites that are 'taking up bandwidth' on their connection

I usually have internet radio on most of the day (and often have CS in the background for use every half hour or so so I don't go mad), but I'm not always listening to it as if I'm listening to recorded shows I'll pause it when I walk away from the desk.

My question is this:

If I've paused a show, or if I've left a normal webpage open and aren't using it, how much bandwidth does that take up?

Any at all?

I can't see how a static webpage can take up any bandwidth whatsoever, but I could be wrong...

 

[guysy]

if the radio show is still loading in the background whilst paused, then yea its still using up bandwith. Not that much i wouldnt have thought though.

 

[JackoR26]

if the radio is streaming at 64kbits a second that gives you your answer

 

[White16valver]

Even if it's an old show that I'm listening back to and can pause, rather than a live show?

 

[JackoR26]

They all stream pretty much the same speed

 

[undergroove]

if the radio show is still loading in the background whilst paused, then yea its still using up bandwith. Not that much i wouldnt have thought though.

At our place a few weeks ago, in 4 working days (roughly 28 hours), streaming media accounted for over 15gb of traffic, which was 58% of the total monitored traffic passing through the proxy server.

That's a fairly hefty chunk of bandwidth wasted, so an addition to our acceptable usage policy's been put in place to kill all streaming media, as the impact on the service overall was noticeable and increasing the risk to the business.

Strange that nobody has contacted the helpdesk to complain about the block though.... either that or they realise they're having a go.

 

[JackoR26]

We also had major issues with streaming media and facebook so we blocked it all on monday

Everything is now blocked apart from Sport, Travel and News which are on an allowance of 6 x 10 mins slots a day

Everyone hates the IT dept now though :rasp:

 

[Andy_con]

tut tut mr anstey.

they were not impressed over facebook in my office

 

[White16valver]

lol

Bunch of slackers

I'll just have to burn my entire CD collection to the laptop...

I've got loads of mixes that I want to download though so better get onto it LoL

 

[Andy_con]

lol so your using the work computer like your own personal computer?!

tut tut

maybe the council should upgrade its internet connection.

 

[undergroove]

maybe the council should upgrade its internet connection.

If it's a council with the words "Newcastle" and "Tyne" in it's name, the chances of the staff using their computers for work are fairly slim anyway.... and that's even with the majority of non work related sites blocked! Extra bandwidth would just allow people to do that little bit less in less time....