Network Slowdown when downloading from torrent
 

1. OS version - Windows XP SP 3
2. What firewalls you have - XP Firewall, router firewall
3. How much ram - 3 gb
4. Hard Disk space available - 100 gb
5. Connection type - cable
6. Modem & router brand name & model numbers - Modem (cogeco cable modem), Router (Linksys WRT54GS running DD-WRT firmware: DD-WRT v23 SP2)
7. Where are you trying to connect from - house
8. What version of LimeWire (LW) & Java do you have? - LimeWire 4.18.6
9. Who is your ISP (Internet Service Provider) - Cogeco Cable (cogeco.com)
10. Do this simple test for us. Using your browser go here: http://www3.limewire.com:6346/ The page should say 'Your test worked!'. What happens when you go there - I see Your test worked!
11. Are you sharing the connection with other computers or p2p sharing programs - No.
12. Is this a your 1st try at LW or is this a new problem with an experienced user. - I am an experienced user
13. Do you see a brick wall in front of the blue world icon at the bottom of LW's interface? - I see the brick wall
14. For those using a modem/router, how is your modem/router set up...are you port forwarding or is UPnP enabled - no port forwarding - UPnP disabled
15. What security programs are you using - McAfee
16. What country are you living in - Canada

Normally limewire runs fine. When I download from the gnutella network I get great dowload speeds. The connection indicator in the bottom left corner (bars) indicates I have a very strong connection.

When I try to use Limewire to download torrents Limewire brings my network connection to it's knees. At first everything is OK. My network connection is stable. The longer Limewire downloads the torrent, the worse my connection gets. When this happens I am not able to even access my routers admin page.

As soon as I close limewire (close sys tray icon as well), my network comes back.

I have noticed this with every torrent application I've used (bit torrent, utorrent...). I tried port forwarding in the past and it didn't seem to help.

Any ideas?

imcndn

Wireless router right? Yes that's a well known problem when using torrents. I am aware the wrt54g has firmware problems & is not reliable. Is it port forwarded? If not, that might be the best way around it. It looks as though UPnP is dropping out now & again due to the extra load of messages.

And yes, in torrent circles they often say they need to reboot their wireless router. The bandwidth is inconsistent for a start, and overload of messages can wreck havoc with the router. Other than port forwarding, not sure the best answer. There is a 3rd party firmware fix to the router but not recommended to novices because you risk rendering the router unusable if get it wrong. (For more about the firmware fix, see Connection problems? Check here first! (click on link) under the UPnP section, under Linksys called " Linksys WRT54G - Fixed my problem, Followed these steps and it works!".)

Yeah it is a wireless router... but my pc is wired into the router. I am not running the linksys firmware at all. I have run DD-WRT on Linksys routers for a few years and I love the setup. I never have to reboot my router. Even after Lmewire kills my connection, as soon as Limewire is closed the router comes back to life.

I don't have anything port forwarded and UPnP is disabled. I could try to forward a port. I've done it in the past for other torrent applications ... it hasn't worked though.

imcndn

That's probably the best way to go. If not port forwarded & no UPnP enabled, then I'm guessing you see a brick wall icon at bottom left of LW's window right?

Yeah I see the brick wall icon. My connection bars are full though (very strong connection).

Do the torrent run on the same ports as the gnutella network? For that matter, are the torrents delivered over the gnutella network?

imcndn

Torrents are different, no they don't run over same network. ;)

You must have a hard time with torrents if people are struggling to download from you. You are seeing the brick wall because of your router's NAT which in an effect operates like a firewall. Torrents are about equal sharing. With some torrent programs at least you need to keep a a good ratio with download v's upload else you either get slowed down downloads with ratio poor (the program does this), else blocked by users with their program settings who refuse to share their files with people who have poor share ratios.

My thoughts are, port forwarding will do two things, one is hopefully make the connection more reliable (not sure since you said you don't use the router as a normal router per se), and help give clear passage to the port you forward meaning others will have less problems uploading from you on both Gnutella network & torrents. ;)

Do I need to open a separate port for bit torrent downloads?

imcndn

Not as far as I know. :)