ResNet Quotas FAQ

March  2002

 

 

Connection Issues

1.      How do I first get connected to ResNet?

2.      I have 2 jacks in my room and no roommate. Can I use either jack? Do I get 524MB/week on each?

3.      Can I plug my laptop into another student’s jack? Whose quota does it count toward?

4.      What happens if I change rooms? Do I inherit the last student’s used-up quota?

 

Disconnection

5.      What should I do when I lose my connection to the ResNet?

6.      How is my traffic counted?

7.      Can I be disabled for more than a week?

8.      Can I get my quota changed?

                  9.   Can I appeal being disconnected?

                  10.   What is winipcfg?

                  11. Can I use a fixed IP number so that I don’t have to connect to the DHCP server every

                        time I plug into my ResNet jack?

12.  How can I cut back on my “external” use?

13. I want to run an e-business.  Can I operate a server on my ResNet jack?

 

Bandlim (bandwidth limiter) software

14.  I don’t think the stats page could be right. Can you prove I had that much traffic?

15.  I got disconnected in the middle of the day. When does the traffic get counted?

16.  I was disabled but the traffic stats page still showed some traffic during my disconnection. Why?

17.  The traffic stats page shows “0” traffic on some days when I know I was on the web. Does the traffic counter really work? 

 

FYI

18.  Besides going over quota, is there any other other way that I can lose my ResNet access?

19.  What is the difference between “internal” (on-campus) and “external ” (off-campus) traffic?

20.  Why is the limit so much lower than last year (was 1 GB/day)?

21.  What happens if Trinity eases up on student quota restrictions?

22.  How much external traffic does typical web browsing generate?

23.  What alternatives do I have to ResNet?

24.  Where does the University post traffic-related info?

 

CONNECTION ISSUES

 

 1. How do I first get connected to ResNet?

  1. Read the ResNet Information Kit.  Sign the ResNet waiver and submit it to the Bursar’s Office. Your ResNet jack is normally activated by 5 PM same day.  A ResNet Troubleshooting Guide is also available at the Bursar’s Office. The ResNet Kit and Troubleshooting Guide are both on the Trinity web site (www.trinity.utoronto.ca -- follow the “College Resources,” “Computing Services” and “Residence Network” links).
  2. Ensure you have the required network card and patch cable, and the right network configuration (see ResNet Information Kit). 
  3. Plug into the jack.  If you are not immediately able to connect to the internet, reboot.
  4. If you still aren’t connecting, get a neighbor with a laptop to plug into your jack to see if their computer can connect. If possible, plug your computer into a neighbour’s working ResNet jack to make sure that your computer is set up correctly for ResNet access. If your neighbor can connect on your jack, you know your port is activated. The College’s responsibility for ResNet support ends there. The College does not have the staff to provide tech support beyond ensuring the jack is live. It is each student’s responsibility to configure his/her own hardware and software.  

 

 

2.  I have 2 jacks in my room and no roommate. Can I use either jack? Do I get 524MB/week on each?

Each student is allowed one live jack, and only one weekly quota. Only one jack per student is activated, to prevent a double quota. If your computer goes over quota and was used on two ports (the second being inadvertently activated), then both ports will be deactivated.

 

 

3.  Can I plug my laptop into another student’s ResNet jack? Whose quota does it count toward?

Yes, you can plug in on another ResNet port, but this is not recommended other than for brief testing. When the regulator software runs (daily, after receipt of UTCNS statistics, usually but not always around 10:00 AM) it will detect the hardware address and corresponding IP number of the computer currently or last connected. If someone else’s computer is using your port at the time or was the last computer to use the port, then that computer’s traffic stats from the previous week are added to your port’s traffic. If their computer was over quota,  your port will be deactivated! It is likewise possible that their week’s traffic will be attributed to you and that you will be disconnected as a result of the combined total exceeding quota.  To prevent transfer of traffic to your port, plug your computer back into your jack right after letting someone else use your port, and connect to the internet to let the hub know that your computer is back on. If the test involves trying to connect to the internet, the small amount of traffic generated would be attributed to that tester’s logs (not yours), provided you re-connect to the jack as above.  

 

 

4.  What happens if I change rooms? Do I inherit the last student’s used-up quota?

No, your quota is specific to your computer’s unique hardware identifier (Mac address).

 

 

 

 

DISCONNECTION

 

 5.  What should I do when I lose my connection to the ResNet?

1.      Check your traffic stats at http://database.trinity.utoronto.ca/Trinity/ReportHub.  You can check through a friend who is connected, in the computer labs, or in the Graham Library.  The database will show for how many days you have been disconnected. Click on the link showing your IP number to see your traffic history.

2.       If you are not over your 524 MB/week quota, perform the tests in step 4 of FAQ 1 above. If the problem is with the jack, submit details on the “Report a problem” button on the traffic stats page (same URL as above). If you cannot get to an online computer, you may leave a voice message at 416 971-1917.   Please note that voice messages and problems reported to College staff are given lower priority than problems reported via the “Report a problem” button.  The best way to contact ResNet Administration is via the “Report a problem” button! If you use this link you will usually get a response within 1 business day.  However the College does not provide 24/7 tech support.

 

6.      How is my traffic counted?

 

The traffic totals for the previous day (midnight to midnight) are collected by our traffic regulator program from UTCNS at about 10 AM daily and the last 7 day totals are calculated. Disconnections and re-activations are then performed automatically by the program based on the date and revised 7-day totals.

 

When you exceed your weekly 524 MB quota and are disconnected, your reconnection date is calculated as follows: (a) traffic total between 524 and 999 MB:  you will be reconnected on the day that your total over the previous 7 days falls under 524 MB; (b) traffic total 1 GB or more: the total is divided by 74.86 (524MB quota / 7 days) and the result (rounded upward) is the number of days you will be disconnected. New: effective in the coming days, the reconnection date will not be recalculated on subsequent days provided that no more than 5 MB of traffic was logged [This is to prevent your reconnection date from getting bumped ahead when you are not connected. The 5 MB allow for inbound (but not delivered) traffic that may normally occur even when you are disconnected.]

 

7.  Can I be disabled for more than a week?

YES. For the first weeks of this year the College limited quota violation penalties to 1 week of disconnection. UTCNS warned each residence that drastically-reduced internet access would result if abuses were not brought under control, and several other residences were severely restricted. Trinity can no longer reduce disconnection penalties for quota excesses, with the possible exception of the initial 1-week penalty, granted at the discretion of the College.

 

Disconnection Example:

Day

Traffic during day (MB)

Sum of previous 7 days

Action taken during day

1

50

0 (new user)

newly connected

2

25

50

left connected

3

0

75

left connected

4

115

75

left connected

5

90

190

left connected

6

10

280

left connected

7

180

290

left connected

8

285

470

left connected

9

1000

705

Disconnection at about 10 AM: set for 4 days

(in this case 4 days with 0 traffic required to bring 7-day total from 755 down to below 500)

10

400

(is disconnected)

1680

Additional traffic during 0000-1000 hrs on day 9 added to last 7-day total. Disconnection revised to 23 days (to day 33)

(=1680 divided by 74.86, rounded up)

11

0

(is disconnected)

2080

Disconnection revised to 28 days (to day 39)

(=2080 divided by 74.86, rounded up)

12

0

(is disconnected)

1965

Disconnection remains to day 39

(1965 / 74.86= 27 daysà left as is)

13

0

(is disconnected)

1875

Disconnection remains to day 39

(1875 / 74.86= 25 daysà left as is)

 

 

8.  Can I get my quota increased?

Only for legitimate academic reasons.  Requests for a higher quota must have full supporting documentation, including a letter from your course instructor, and must be submitted to “ResNet Appeals, Bursar’s Office”.  Such requests are subject to inspection of traffic content. 

 

9. Can I appeal being disconnected? 

If your disconnection penalty exceeds one week you may appeal in writing to “ResNet Appeals, c/o Bursar’s Office” for this one-time allowance. Verbal and email requests are not accepted. If your quota excess is significant or otherwise appears deliberate, the appeal may be denied.  

Appeals for a second penalty reduction following disconnection for over-quota due to file-serving will not be considered, whether or not you were aware that your computer was serving.

 

10.  What is winipcfg?

Window IP configuration. It gets/tells you your IP number. Click Start, then Run, then type “winipcfg” (type “ipconfig” in Windows NT) to see the IP number issued by a ResNet DHCP server. IP numbers starting with “169” are not valid and indicate a failure connecting to the DHCP server. Select your network card (not “PPP” adaptor) and click “Renew All” to try to get a valid IP lease. If you can get a number starting with “128” or “192” (depends on subnet) then you’ve connected to the DHCP server, so you know your jack is active.

 

11.  Can I use a fixed IP number so that I don’t have to connect to the DHCP server every time I plug into my ResNet jack?

This matter is under review.  For the time being it is NOT allowed because our DHCP servers will not know that certain IP numbers are manually taken, and this will result in IP conflicts with other student’s computers. Obtaining an IP lease from the DHCP server takes only a few seconds and is much easier to set up. Until there is a change in policy, students who set up fixed (static) IP numbers may be permanently disconnected.

 

12.  How can I cut back on my “external” use?

 

13.  I want to run an e-business. Can I operate a server on my ResNet jack?

The University does not have the bandwidth to operate commercial enterprises. All traffic results in slower access for other users, so the University’s network must be restricted to academic uses.  This is why servers are banned under the Trinity College ResNet Rules.

 

 

BANDLIM (BANDWIDTH LIMITER) SOFTWARE

 

14.  I don’t think the stats page could be right. Can you prove I had that much traffic?

Our external traffic stats (what you see at http://database.trinity.utoronto.ca/Trinity/ReportHub) are collected from UTCNS. They post their logs at http://www.noc.utoronto.ca/ipaudit. You can look there to corroborate our information. The “Show Host Statistics” link gives you the stats for the computer you are using. Remember that UTCNS does not sum the traffic in real time:  stats are gathered once daily, and only count traffic up to midnight the day before. The UTCNS page also has logs listing the top 50 users per subnet, etc. You can get free traffic counting software via http://www.utoronto.ca/ucres/netup.htm .

 

15.  I got disconnected in the middle of the day. When does the traffic get counted?

See FAQ 6 above (How is my traffic counted?).  The traffic regulator is usually, but not always, run at about 10 AM daily. Disconnections can occur at anytime of day. 

 

16.  I was disabled but the traffic stats page still showed some traffic during my disconnection. Why?

If computers from outside the St. George campus try to connect to your computer, the traffic involved is attributed to your designated ResNet hub port (outgoing and incoming traffic is counted in your quota). This normally only happens when you have set up a server and other computers on the Internet are trying to connect to yours.  

 

17.  The traffic stats page shows “0” traffic on some days when I know I was on the web. Does the traffic counter really work? 

Traffic totals are only counted for the top 50 users per subnet. Trinity College’s ResNet has 3 subnets, so only our top 150 users per day get their traffic counted and posted on the traffic stats page. The remainder are logged zero traffic for the day (for weekly total purposes).

 

 

FYI

 

18.  Besides going over quota, is there any other way that I can lose my ResNet access?

 

19.  What is the difference between “internal” (on-campus) and “external ” (off-campus) traffic?

Data sent and received must all travel within the downtown St. George campus in order for it to be considered internal. This normally includes email and web access that stays within the campus (ex: www.utoronto.ca  and ROSI pages). External traffic is anything that goes over the University’s 50 Mb/s fibre optic pipeline to the “outside world”.  This is a limited resource that must be shared. Hence the University’s guidelines and quotas.

 

20.  Why is the limit so much lower than last year (was 1 GB/day)?

Last year’s abuses drastically affected normal University operations (not just residence traffic). The University does not intend to purchase more bandwidth if the vast majority of it is being used for non-academic purposes by a small minority of heavy users.

 

21.  What happens if Trinity eases up on student quota restrictions?

The 524 MB per week per student quota applies to all University residences (including the grad residence), not just Trinity. UTCNS has served notice that they will restrict any College residence to a tiny pipeline if it cannot control its students (this has already happened with other residences). The resulting service may be comparable to a very slow modem connection. In most cases, restriction to the small pipe is due to excessive usage by just a few individuals. By controlling such excesses internally, Trinity intends to avoid a slow pipeline.

 

22.  How much external traffic does typical web browsing generate?

Browsing itself generates surprisingly little traffic. The same applies to email (excluding unusually large attachments) and ICQ (excluding file sharing). The traffic piles up when you download a lot of files and even more so when you serve them out. Just browsing and email will generate only about 10% of your quota’s worth of traffic, so you don’t need to watch your stats unless you do more than normal surfing and email.

A typical MP3 is about 5 MB, so 105 such downloads uses up a week’s quota. A computer can serve out MP3’s a few thousand times in a single day, using up your entire year’s quota. Video clips can be hundreds of MB each.

 

23.  What alternatives do I have to ResNet?

You can use your portable computer in the Trinity lab, Graham Library or Buttery, or use the labs’ and library’s own workstations. Note that the Buttery has 21 ethernet jacks as well as wireless access available for UTORdial account holders (see www.wireless.utoronto.ca for connection and required hardware details). You also have the option of obtaining an ISP that you can connect to with your phone line. It is up to you to arrange any dial-up ISP (using your telephone line) on your own. Rogers.com internet service via cable should be arranged through the office of the Building Manager (please note that this may not be available in some parts of the College).

 

24.  Where does the University post related info?

UTCNS has further information on the topics below at http://utcc.utoronto.ca/campus_residences_access.html :

 

BulletRules governing access and use of Internet Traffic
    Bullet Regulations Governing Access to the Internet From UofT Residences
    Bullet Appropriate Use of Information Technology
    Bullet Code of Student Conduct
    Bullet Individual Residence Rules
       Bullet Innis College
       Bullet St. Mike's College
       Bullet Trinity College
       Bullet University College

BulletHow to know if one is approaching the weekly limit on Internet Traffic
    Bullet Definition of the Current Limit
    Bullet Traffic Statistics Provided by CNS
    Bullet How to Determine Your IP Address
       Bullet For Windows
       Bullet For LINUX
       Bullet For Apple MACs

BulletHints to facilitate compliance with the rules
    Bullet UTORmirror
    Bullet FAQs
    Bullet Tools
       Bullet Use CNS Statistics
       Bullet Bandwidth Meter
       Bullet Personal Firewalls
       Bullet Hijacking Prevention - Windows
       Bullet LINUX Tools