How does a router allocate bandwidth when 2 computers are online?

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cpu12

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Nov 11, 2013
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Hi, all.

Here's something I've not been able to figure out. If 2 computers are connected to a router (wired router, if it makes any difference) and both are online, how is the bandwidth divided? Is it a fixed split, or would it be based on each computer's activity.

For example, if somone starts streaming live tv and then someone else goes on a forum, would it make a noticeable difference to the person streaming?

Say you load up a page and then just read it for a while (or even walk away but leave it connected online), would it slow things down the whole time the 2nd computer is connected, or just while the page is loading?

Another question is if bandwidth is on a first come, first serve, basis. That is, if 1st. computer pulls up a stream, then 2nd computer pulls up a stream, would both be slowed down equally, or only the 2nd computer since the 1st. one started streaming first?

Sorry, if I'm making this sound complicated, but there's so many angles it seems! Thanks a lot to anyone who can clarify this!
 
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yoji
Its shared.. so it would just try and service all the needs..it does not understand concepts of streaming and forums.. it just gets asked for little bits of data and it gets them and delivers them to each PC as best it can.

So in your scenarios..
If someone streaming (high bandwidth need) and someone goes on forum. (low bandwidth) .it would have small effect - but not significant.

Having loaded a web page in general it will not need more data so if you walk away - it wont use more bandwidth to keep the page displayed.

It is first come first served. but not in way you describe. So if someone already streaming and a second starts you would both get half the bandwidth (so first person would slow down as second person uses half...
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yoji

yoji

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Jul 1, 2011
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Its shared.. so it would just try and service all the needs..it does not understand concepts of streaming and forums.. it just gets asked for little bits of data and it gets them and delivers them to each PC as best it can.

So in your scenarios..
If someone streaming (high bandwidth need) and someone goes on forum. (low bandwidth) .it would have small effect - but not significant.

Having loaded a web page in general it will not need more data so if you walk away - it wont use more bandwidth to keep the page displayed.

It is first come first served. but not in way you describe. So if someone already streaming and a second starts you would both get half the bandwidth (so first person would slow down as second person uses half bandwidth.)

You can get routers etc which use things like QOS (Quality of Service) which enable it prioritise traffic. by type (e.g. streaming) .. or throttle bandwidth to a specific PC to stop it taking more than X amount etc..

Its complicated.. and my explanatins are very much simplified..
But HTH
Cheers



 
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