Playing Unreal Tournament 2004 in college

[spidey07]

well the OP isn't being blocked, it's being put at the bottom of the barrel as far as service and quality of service. If more important apps need the pipe they will starve out the game.

 

[yukichigai]

Originally posted by: spidey07
their network, their rules.

there is no argument against this whatsoever.

If you are able to get external ISP access, such as DSL or Cable in your room, then fine. If, however, the college specifically prohibits you from accessing the internet through any conneciton but their own, then this is not acceptable. Blocking P2P, BT, etc. is one thing: the University is partially responsible for any illegal activites conducted on their network. However, blocking all game access is another. I can understand a bandwidth cap, and that would probably be the most egalitarian method for everyone concerned; if bandwidth use is an issue then make sure it's allocated evenly. Don't cripple the availability of your network and piss everyone off in the process, especially if you're keeping people bound to that connection and that connection alone. Like it or not, a dorm is a home, not a prison cell you occupy between classes.

How about this? You have problems with students taking up bandwidth? Add an optional "enhanced internet" fee and use the proceeds to purchase another T3 line, then allocate higher bandwidth and (mostly) unfettered access to those students who pay for it. So what if it's an extra $400? Chances are good that the students are already paying something in the 5-digit range to attend said school anyway. (before Scholarships and whatnot) The University can't complain about bandwidth useage, the students get their games, (probably not P2P though) and everyone's happy. So why hasn't it been done yet?

 

[spidey07]

Because the school is not there to provide internet access.

They are NOT and ISP, nor do they want to be, nor should they be.

There is always dial-up.

 

[yukichigai]

Originally posted by: spidey07
Because the school is not there to provide internet access.

They are NOT and ISP, nor do they want to be, nor should they be.

I agree that they shouldn't be the ISP. However, Universities often times make themselves the ISP by implementing network access policies like the one I described, specifically where they disallow the use of any other ISP, e.g. getting Cable or DSL in the dorm room. When a University does that then they are the ISP, and have effectively taken it upon themselves to provide internet access to anybody living in the dorms.

If not... well yes, students should probably consider getting DSL for themselves, regardless of how illogical the Uni's network policies are. I still say the Uni would be better off simply adding a bandwidth cap rather than blocking all games/anything fun and is stupid for not doing so, but if you have a choice then you're better off going to an outside service.

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: yukichigai

Originally posted by: spidey07
Because the school is not there to provide internet access.

They are NOT and ISP, nor do they want to be, nor should they be.

I agree that they shouldn't be the ISP. However, Universities often times make themselves the ISP by implementing network access policies like the one I described, specifically where they disallow the use of any other ISP, e.g. getting Cable or DSL in the dorm room. When a University does that then they are the ISP, and have effectively taken it upon themselves to provide internet access to anybody living in the dorms.

If not... well yes, students should probably consider getting DSL for themselves, regardless of how illogical the Uni's network policies are. I still say the Uni would be better off simply adding a bandwidth cap rather than blocking all games/anything fun and is stupid for not doing so, but if you have a choice then you're better off going to an outside service.

How do they limit that without spending more money or time? That's often the key. 😉

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: n0cmonkey

How do they limit that without spending more money or time? That's often the key. 😉[/quote]

Exactly. It all comes down to money.

The operational cost of a decent sized network is astounding. It's not about just the circuits. It's the overall operations that skyrocket into the millions/year.

Here's how it happens-
Administration "WTF is going on with our Internet? Look at how much money we spend and our professors are constantly calling me about it. I want it fixed and I want our operational budget reduced."

IT - "crap, guess we gotta start trimming the pipe. Let's start with that killer P2P and the games...we gotta cut this constant drain. We could always just add another pipe but our budget is already slashed and we just can't get it approved. Thank goodness we put the money in the capital plan for a few packeteers."

 

[amdskip]

I thought most online games were designed to play with 56k in mind. I know for a fact that WOW is very playable on 56k. I don't understand how games use "so much bandwidth". I think the real problems are the p2p file sharers and not the gamers. Schools don't have to provide athletic facilities and workout areas to students but they do because it gives them something to do. The same goes for online gaming. Lots of students don't like to drink and would much rather game. Wouldn't you rather have students not breaking laws by staying in and playing games?

 

[nweaver]

Originally posted by: amdskip
I thought most online games were designed to play with 56k in mind. I know for a fact that WOW is very playable on 56k. I don't understand how games use "so much bandwidth". I think the real problems are the p2p file sharers and not the gamers. Schools don't have to provide athletic facilities and workout areas to students but they do because it gives them something to do. The same goes for online gaming. Lots of students don't like to drink and would much rather game. Wouldn't you rather have students not breaking laws by staying in and playing games?

For the majority of college students...drinking isn't illegal.

It's not the college's job to entertain the students, provide game access, or anything else. They provide an education, and as an added benifit, sometimes provide housing, to make the education easier.

 

[blemoine]

Universities offer internet service as a educational tool. i would imagine that a majority of a universities netowork gear is paid for and/or provided by grants that are very specific as to how it should be used. i would also imagine that no educational grant has ever said anything about allowing students to play online games. the internet at school is not a RIGHT it is a Privilege. end of story

 

[1KrazyFool]

I work as an admin for a ResNet (RESidential NETwork), so I feel qualified to respond. 🙂


Disclamer: I work at a public university. My comments here apply to most other public institutions. Private schools often work differently in these regards, mainly due to differing organizational structures.

Most ResNet operators DO care about the entertainment value of the network. The res hall experience is meant to be one where the student does feel at home, and can relax and play as such. The problem is money, as others have pointed out. Bandwidth is really expensive, and we try and strike a balance between having too little and having too much. Too little, and students will complain because almost all of the apps are bandwidth limited. Too much bandwidth, and the administration will complain that we are spending too much of the student's money. Housing operations are under pressure to not jack their rates up too much, because tuition is generally skyrocketing as the states pull money out of public higher-ed.

That leads me to talking about money. In a public school, all money is not equal. There are two types: tuition/tax payer money (refered to as General Purpose Revenue (GPR)) and program specific money (Program Revenue(PR)) that goes to specific programs like housing, food service, student unions, etc. Even though as a student, you tend to see one bill, it is really broken out. Money paid to housing goes to housing, period. No one else can spend it.

ResNets are paid for using housing money. And it isn't very much of it, per student. In our case, out of an approximately $2000/yr housing bill, only $150 per year per student goes towards running the ResNet. That pays for bandwidth, networking gear, support staff (students and full-time staff), etc. If you compare that amount to what you pay for a cable modem around here ($50/month from Comcast), the ResNet is a steal! Yes, Comcast gives you more bandwidth, but you pay 3-4X as much. Plus they have much larger economies of scale working in their favor.

So, while we could purchase more bandwidth, and give more to games, etc. it is hard to justify that in the overall picture when, as I mentioned, tuition is going up so fast and hard. And not everyone wants to pay $50 more per year so games get more bandwidth when myspace.com and facebook.com still load fast. 🙂