Choosing the Right Bandwidth
Resnet has four subscription levels :
- Level I is suitable for students who do not use their resident hall access point as their main source of Internet access. Suitable for minimal browsing and e-mail.
- Level II is suitable for Internet use that involve streaming music, moderate Internet browsing habits, high bandwidth web sites (flash, Java), and some video streaming (such as youtube.com).
- Level III is suitable for higher bandwidth usage. This level is suitable for uploading or downloading large files, running a networked gaming console, browsing extensively, or running a server.
- Level IV is the highest level of bandwidth usage. This level is suitable for all uses.
The following table shows common Internet usage and the subscription level appropriate for that level of usage.
Internet Activity |
Level I |
Level II |
Level III or IV |
Internet Phone (Skype) |
X |
X |
X |
Ebay |
|
X |
X |
Streaming/Downloading Video (YouTube) |
|
|
X |
P2P – File Sharing |
|
|
X |
Checking E-mail |
X |
X |
X |
IM |
X |
X |
X |
Downloading Pictures |
|
X |
X |
Console Gaming |
|
|
X |
Social Networking (Facebook, MySpace) |
X |
X |
|
Resnet calculates your bandwidth usage on a weekly basis from the time you subscribe. Each week, on your reset day, your bandwidth is set to your full allocation. Activity on the university network, such as accessing university Web pages or checking your university e-mail account with Webmail, does not count against your weekly allocation.
You can view your reset day by viewing your Port Status.
Bandwidth
Bandwidth is a how much data is transmitted over the network over a given period of time. In the context of the Resnet, bandwidth refers to the amount of data that you download to or transmit from your computer during a one-week period to off campus locations. Your bandwidth is tracked and counted. When you subscribe, you pay for a bandwidth amount per week. The count of your weekly bandwidth is reset on your reset day.
Information Technology Services manages both bandwidth and speed to ensure the quality of Resnet service for all subscribers.
Speed
Speed is the rate at which your bandwidth is used. If you use more than your bandwidth allocation, your speed on the network will be adversely affected.
The university network has two service brackets that determine the speed of your connection. When you are within the weekly bandwidth allocation for your subscription level, your connection is in the 1st-Class service bracket. If you go over your weekly allocation, you are moved to the slower 2nd-Class service bracket. On your reset day, your bandwidth count starts over, and you are placed in the 1st-Class service bracket.
The 1st-Class service bracket operates at full-speed. The 2nd-Class service bracket still allows access to the Internet, but at a significantly reduced speed.
1st and 2nd-Class service brackets do not pertain to on-campus computing. You will always have full speed connection to all UT sites. The service class brackets only affect off-campus traffic. On-campus computing is not limited, ever, and its not counted counted towards your weekly bandwidth allocation, ever.
