How to stop my roommates from streaming off of my server

[delussional77]

I just got finished making a nice new file sharing server for me and my roommates. We use it primarily to record TV shows and to view them later. The problem is that this server was built using an older computer and when several people are trying to stream shows off of it the computer bogs down pretty quickly. Since the computer is used almost constantly to encode the tv shows this means that if several people are streaming videos to their own computer the encodes get messed up.

Is there a simple (or even not-so-simple) way of disabling the ability to stream. I think it would benefit everyone to just copy and paste to their desktop. It is much quicker this way and puts less strain on the computer.

Also, is there a way that I can monitor who is connecting to the computer? We are all on the same workgroup and are identified by our names (and our individual local IP's as well). Is there a way that I can tell who is viewing the files and at what times.

Thanks alot, AnandTech rocks!

 

[jlazzaro]

you must be delussional...3 posts within 5 minutes on the same subject?

 

[delussional77]

damn, i kept trying to reload and refresh the screen
i'll change that (sorry)

 

[Lemon law]

Your question partly depends on how you networked in your room mate's PC---if its wireless---it may be super easy---just implement in some sort of wireless security method.
When you want them to have access---turn off your security settings---when you don't--turn on your security and they will be prevented from sucking up your bandwidth. If its a hard wired network, there are still security methods you can implement and unimplement---but get some geek type to write you a batch file so that you can turn it on or off with a few secret keystrokes.

After all---this your computer and not their computer---you are being a decent guy and sharing access---but if some want to be jerks---and try to make your computer do more than its capable of in a given time---you need to cut them off---and to keep things friendly---be up front on why you have to do this to keep the hard feelings down..

 

[Sniper82]

The simplest method is telling them when they stream it causes the computer slow down to the point to where it has issues recording shows and its best if they copy and paste to their desktop and just delete it after viewing. If they still continue to do it either tell them they need to stop or you will disable their PC altogether. Really if they are that rude they need to be disabled.

If your don't want to tell them because your afraid they will get mad what do you think they will do when they find out you blocked them from streaming. I personally would be more mad myself.

 

[acemcmac]

Fvck them and ban them.

 

[delussional77]

Well...they all chipped in for the HD(s) so banning them isn't really a worth-while option. I was hoping there was some easy way to configure the shared folders so that they were read only and therefore make it so nobody can stream.

And there really is no easy software that will tell me who is logging onto the computer and viewing certain files at certain times. Not even like some kind of cmd network command?

Thanks for all the replies, and for excusing my noobishness on the subject.

 

[theorignalAMD Overclocker]

Read but not open for file security?

 

[delussional77]

Haha, i'm sorry I don't even know what that means. I just want them to be only have the ability to copy from the server.

Just a quick note I have about 15 roommates so this isn't as easy as going around when the computer is bogged down and figuring it out.

 

[LOFBenson]

Remove their access to the files in windows file sharing. Install a web server that will allow you to limit the bandwidth used per connection. Share the files on the web server.

 

[Rilex]

Yep, throttle the connection in IIS using QoS...might work depending on how many people are accessing the stream (note using this method would not prevent them from streaming, you've still given them access to read).

But given they're media files, and you've given them read access...they can stream.

 

[delussional77]

Originally posted by: LOFBenson
Remove their access to the files in windows file sharing. Install a web server that will allow you to limit the bandwidth used per connection. Share the files on the web server.

install a web server? Is this like new hardware? It is expensive? Have any useful links for this kind of thing? Thanks guys!

 

[azev]

just setup ftp server, they everyone have to download instead of stream.

 

[theorignalAMD Overclocker]

Im assuming you are just using XP? If so, get a server os, ie 2003. You can set "read and execute" permission, meaning they cant stream the files.

 

[JackMDS]

This is probably the best answer (By Rilex).

Yep, throttle the connection in IIS using QoS...

IIs is a Web server that comes with Windows, http://www.microsoft.com/resources/docu.../proddocs/en-us/iiiisin2.mspx?mfr=true

Qos means that you can control and reduce the bandwidth thta is udes by your partners.

:sun:

 

[ericlp]

Second the FTP server.. Or telnet sessions...

 

[nweaver]

ftp would be a good way of download only, not sure if you can limit connections/bw, as that is dependent on sofware. for windows, I have always heard good things about running Filezilla as a server (never run a windows FTP server myself)

 

[ch33zw1z]

FTP FTW, you'll be able to check ip's of people logged in, and restrict access.

 

[TC10284]

Originally posted by: nweaver
ftp would be a good way of download only, not sure if you can limit connections/bw, as that is dependent on sofware. for windows, I have always heard good things about running Filezilla as a server (never run a windows FTP server myself)

Yep, I believe that FileZilla would work well for this situation. I use FileZilla server over the Windows FTP server in IIS.
FileZilla will let you do lots of things easily. Multiple users with different home dirs, bandwidth throttling, etc. It has lovely logs too.
I <3 it...

 

[HKSturboKID]

Some routers such as Linksys have QOS build in. That is one option. Another one is get a 10mbps hub and plug it into 1 port of the router and plug all the streamers on that the hub. They will get be hogging each others bandwidth within the 10mbps limit and leave the rest for you and your good roommates.

 

[InlineFive]

Originally posted by: HKSturboKID
Some routers such as Linksys have QOS build in. That is one option. Another one is get a 10mbps hub and plug it into 1 port of the router and plug all the streamers on that the hub. They will get be hogging each others bandwidth within the 10mbps limit and leave the rest for you and your good roommates.

In this case he needs QoS on the host computer itself since that does nothing to take burdon off of the CPU for encoding.

 

[delussional77]

thansk for all the great suggestions guys. I am researching Filezilla right now and hopefully this solution works!

 

[Brazen]

Filezilla server would work good. Alternatively, I _think_ if you set the file permissions to only read, with no execute permission, then they will not be able to stream.

 

[delussional77]

how do i set that permission

 

[Brazen]

right-click on the folder containing the files, chose 'Properties'. Click the 'Security' tab. That is where you set permissions.