I was just over at fileplanet trying to download a new map, and found thier new distrubition method. For those that haven't come across it, when you select your download, your asked if you'd like to get in line, and how many users are ahead of you. Basically after you click the link, you wait about 5 mins, and then it starts. being on a 56.6k modem, i actually got very fast transfers, and even despite the 5 min wait the whole transfer took a shorter period of time than a normally from file planet (transfers for me usually were in the 0.5-2.5k range)
Anyhow, i've noticed that a good amount of download sites, (zdnet, fileplanet, ect) are slow as hell, because they're beeing overloaded. But my concern and question is: Are they being overloaded because the number of users are going up, or is it because broadband users are increasing and leeching more bandwith than servers are acustom to? Or is it both?
While the internet continues to grow i'm a little worried that high octane leeches will grow faster than free download sites like those mentioned will be able to serve without adopted different policies for downloading. I'm begining to think that the days of the "click on the link, get the file" that many of us are so acustom to will not be the case in the future.
I think that policies such as the "get in line" one now being tested at fileplant, or the "required file sharing program" that i've heard discussed (basically if you download a "popular" file, and you go over a "speed limit" your required to share that file X amount of times useing some form of a filesharing. This would generally only apply to people with connections like T-1's, but i suppose it might be applied to cablemodem users or DSL users if the problem continues to grow.
The other choice isn't very pleasing. Pay for the use of the server, which few of us would be inclined to do, or be able to since it would require a CC. Either that or the servers would charge broadband ISP's for thier use, which would inturn drive the cost of broadband sky high.
Personally i really enjoy the new policy being tested by Fileplanet.
Anyone else have comments, or ideas on how to aproach the problem?
Anyhow, i've noticed that a good amount of download sites, (zdnet, fileplanet, ect) are slow as hell, because they're beeing overloaded. But my concern and question is: Are they being overloaded because the number of users are going up, or is it because broadband users are increasing and leeching more bandwith than servers are acustom to? Or is it both?
While the internet continues to grow i'm a little worried that high octane leeches will grow faster than free download sites like those mentioned will be able to serve without adopted different policies for downloading. I'm begining to think that the days of the "click on the link, get the file" that many of us are so acustom to will not be the case in the future.
I think that policies such as the "get in line" one now being tested at fileplant, or the "required file sharing program" that i've heard discussed (basically if you download a "popular" file, and you go over a "speed limit" your required to share that file X amount of times useing some form of a filesharing. This would generally only apply to people with connections like T-1's, but i suppose it might be applied to cablemodem users or DSL users if the problem continues to grow.
The other choice isn't very pleasing. Pay for the use of the server, which few of us would be inclined to do, or be able to since it would require a CC. Either that or the servers would charge broadband ISP's for thier use, which would inturn drive the cost of broadband sky high.
Personally i really enjoy the new policy being tested by Fileplanet.
Anyone else have comments, or ideas on how to aproach the problem?
