How do you reduce the speed of a router so that a new server- intensive app will work thru a firewall?

Question

My company upgraded to Microsoft Office 2003 and integrated a document app into it. Since then, I've been unable to connect remotely through my company's firewall via a Belkin router over a cable connection. The program is now too "server intensive" and the exchange of information packets (I'm told) is overwhelming the system and freezing me out of my internet connection. Two sources have suggested that I "slow down" the router speed to allow a smoother exchange, which will allow me access at home. As a working mom of 3 kids, I reeaally need to be able to connect at home sometimes. Thank you.

Answer 1

You said:

{ The program is now too "server intensive" and the exchange of information packets (I'm told) is overwhelming the system and freezing me out of my internet connection }

Honestly, I'd evaluate that statement a bit more before trying any remedies. Bostonianinmo has a good point about the wisdom of any shop unleashing a bandwidth intensive service over a WAN - but the statement being made about generically overwhelming your system and freezing you out of your internet connection sounds like doubletalk, nonsense, whatever.

It might help if you described your symptoms instead of passing a long a vague diagnosys.

Answer 2

You're not going to do that on your end with a cheapie SOHO router like your Belkin. You'd need a Cisco 1800 series or better -- and someone who could configure it -- to manage your bandwidth that way. However, it's possible that your company can throttle the bandwidth through your VPN tunnel on their end. That's the only realistic way to control the bandwidth utilization in your case.

Your company should never have instituted a bandwidth-intensive client-server architecture over a slow WAN link in the first place. I'd suggest that they put up a terminal server that you can access over the VPN tunnel to your company's network. That would move the bandwidth usage to their well-connected LAN where it belongs.

Answer 3

Running office2003 on your computer has nothing to do with remote access. If you dont start an office2003 application (word, excel, outlook, etc), then there is no traffic on the net from your computer. You should be able to VPN as you did before.

Your HQ has blocked you on their firewall when they installed their server app, probably MSexchange server. Now, why they would do this because of bandwidth limitations is silly. They should simply up their own bandwidth, as the cost of bandwidth is cheap today. Yes, exchange is "chatty", but is easily manageable - IF done right.

Now, the new document application may also be bandwidth intenstive, but again, easily manageable.

Talk to your IT staff and find out their plans on upgrades of bandwidth. It's obviously something that they have to address. Your bandwidth at home has NOTHING to do with this. Be sensitive to what you say because they probably now realize that they did not do their homework when planning these upgrades, and are in CYA mode now (or were limited in budget).

Good luck!

Answer 4

I would definitely ask your company whether getting direct access through Remote Desktop, Terminal Server, or Citrix is a possibility. You could even potentially use PcAnywhere, or Go2MyPC if these are allowed to connect to your desktop PC at the office. These types of applications circumvent bandwidth issues like the one you are talking about because instead of data being passed through your router, you are only passing keystrokes and screen shots (i.e. your mouse clicks and the images of the application, not the application data itself).

If this isn't a possibility, you will probably need to adjust the MTU setting on your router, although you would need to find out from the router manufacturer how to do this.

Answer 5

I would love to help but I would need to know what type of router you are using. Also are you talking about your router at home or your router at work?