Bandwidth

[SiKing]

This is most probably totally noobish but I really do not understand bandwidth. Ok, I know that my web host will only allow my website to be viewed so-much per month depending on the file sizes, etc. But what limits bandwidth?

I would like to host my website on my computer at some stage (using XAMPP - php, apache, etc.) but where does bandwidth come into it all?

Thanks in advance,
Si

 

[kpm547]

Okay, this is the best that I can explain it.

Think of a 1 litre bucket of water. This is the your total amount of bandwidth you are allowed per month by you webhost(10gig per month or whatever).

There is a hose in the bucket that allows it to drain. The hose is only so big allowing .01 litres/sec of water to flow. This is the maximum bandwidth per second your internet service provider will allow (1Mbp/sec upload or whatever)(They also usually have a maximum bandwidth per month).

Whenever someone accesses your webpage the tap on the hose in the bucket is turned on. This allows the water/data to be transferred to the client. So the client requests the webpage and your server sends the data comprised of all the images and html files(8k image, 5k for html file, 8k for stylesheet). Then the tap is turned off once they have got all the data they need for the page. your bucket is now a little bit emptier. The hose is only a certain size, so you can't get more flow/second out.

Now your bucket is a little bit emptier. At the end of the month, your host turns on the tap and refills the bucket with water. If too many people access your page and the bucket empties before the end of the month, your host will usually charge you to fill it up again with a little water/bandwidth to get you through until the end of the month. Once the new month starts, your back to your full bucket.

Simple right? Now go get a drink of water. :D

 

[SiKing]

lol. Thanks a lot :tu:

So if I host the site myself, I have unlimited water in my bucket but it will be prone to slow loading etc.?

 

[Rudy]

Not only that, but remember that when someone requests a webpage, the hose is opened, and the water trickles through the hose - from your computer to their computer. That means that there has to be a server in between (your ISP). Like kpm547 said in his post, this server ALSO has will have a maximum bandwidth per month - as well as a maximum speed per second.

 

[Red Eyes Arena]

um so how come some site allowed unlimited bandwidth?

 

[vip-ip]

um so how come some site allowed unlimited bandwidth?

Now that's a problem - there's no such thing as unmetered bandwidth. Even Google or MSN or Yahoo can't have that. The bucket could fit 1 liter or 10 liters or 100 liters (if your hoster has a bucket that big) but there's no such thing as unlimited bucket. Such hosts lie and can't offer a service like that without consequences.

To answer your question about your bandwidth for a home-based server - it will depend on the kind of line you have. If you access the internet via dial up, your site will be slow like a snail, even your neighbor with broadband probably won't be able to load images fast. That is because phone lines can't transfer data faster than 56.6k / sec, unless it's DSL. The faster your internet line, the more speed whoever accesses your page will have. Now, ISP's, these CAN provide unmetered bandwidth, because what they do is actually give you, say, 5mbps speed, they multiply that by the amount of seconds in a month and voila - you got a 13TB bandwidth limit, there's no such thing as any more than 13TB because it's not possible on 5 mbps line.

Get it?

 

[Red Eyes Arena]

um so when a host say they have unlimited space and unlimited bandwidth stay away from them?

 

[Brian]

um so when a host say they have unlimited space and unlimited bandwidth stay away from them?

Yes , stay far far away

 

[kpm547]

Yes , stay far far away

I don't know if you have to stay far away, just ask them some questions.

I think they are saying that there is not a very likely chance that you will be able to use as bandwidth that they can provide. Ask what type of connection they have.

 

[brandonlanglois]

Ok. Every month you get soo much badwidth what happens is say you upload fine thats probably if its a text file about 4 -6 KB depending on how big but pictures and MP3's Really take that your bandwidth away. Also if you stream or anybody streams videos or music that also adds up to a lot. You also loose bandwidth by people goin to your pages.