Info Technology continues bandwidth limit

Some students report difficulty using file-sharing software such as Limewire

Although no new measures have been added to prevent file sharing on the JMU computing network, off-campus and on-campus students have reported difficulty using popular file-sharing software.

"We have not added anything new to combat the use of file sharing this year," said Dale Hulvey, assistant vice president for Information Technology. "We continue to use the hardware/software system from Packeteer that we put into place two years ago to limit the amount of Internet bandwidth that can be used by [person-to-person] software."

Hulvey said that network administrators installed prohibitive software to limit bandwidth use because popular programs like Napster and Limewire were "severely affecting the use of our Internet connection for distance learning, business operation and other educational activities.

"We do not totally block the use of file-sharing software," he said. "We only limit the amount of Internet bandwidth this software can use." Bandwidth limitations ensure that JMU’s network is "not an attractive site" for anyone hoping to exploit it as a personal Internet server, Hulvey added. He also said that file-sharing software leaves him "constantly concerned" because of such software’s vulnerability to viruses. Hulvey said that an infection could devastate computers and spread rapidly across JMU’s network.

Hulvey encourages "student, faculty and staff to take responsibility to apply virus patches and blocks" to their personal computers.

Sarah Anderson, a sophomore living in The Mill apartments, said, "Limewire wouldn’t let me connect, but I don’t know if that’s just for now or if it will connect if I wait."

Sophomore Andy Butterfield said, "It worked for a little bit, like an hour. It hasn’t worked since."

Butterfield lives on campus and had success with Limewire last year. "It worked fine last year, I never had a problem connecting."

While Hulvey is uncertain about problems with Limewire and other file-sharing programs from off-campus locations, he encourages network users to patronize online commercial sources for media downloading.

"We encourage our students to use commercial products for obtaining music like Apple’s iTunes, Real Player Music Store, Napster, Rhapsody and others," he said.