I'm a little confused. Why would Skype need to run down someone's pipe only to jump back out again in a way of utilizing bandwidth for other calls? That seems quite inefficient to take a detour in routing of a telephone call.
Thomas Deliduka Director of Information Technology Columbus Museum of Art 480 East Broad Street Columbus, OH 43215 ph 614/629-0345 fax 614/629-0950 thomas.deliduka at cmaohio.org ? ART SPEAKS. JOIN THE CONVERSATION -----Original Message----- From: mcn-l-bounces at mcn.edu [mailto:mcn-l-boun...@mcn.edu] On Behalf Of David Salovesh Sent: Friday, May 29, 2009 11:51 AM To: Museum Computer Network Listserv Subject: Re: [MCN-L] do you Skype? Ad-hoc Skype is explicitly banned here. It may return someday as an organizational initiative, but we're still trying to figure out what the benefit would be for us. (We have sponsored phone service and have virtually no international communication requirements, so our economics may not be typical.) It wasn't always this way - I allowed it for a while. I originally had to ban it because we were short on bandwidth, and some folks couldn't resist using it in ways that completely overwhelmed our connection. That led to a temporary suspension of Skype use pending system analysis, improvements, and re-analysis. After we upgraded our connection I discovered the more troubling property of Skype traffic that led to the current outright ban: As I understand it, Skype can exist as a "free" service because each user donates spare bandwidth to carrying calls for other users. For home or home-like use that's probably okay since the bandwidth Skype sees as idle is probably actually so. In an enterprise or enterprise-like setting, the individual Skype clients don't do as good a job at measuring excess capacity. My previous service was SDSL at 1.5 mbps, and with 45 people in the office our utilization was over 95% at all times. My second site users were essentially unable to work, and even main site users were losing patience. After the upgrade to 10 mbps (metro-Ethernet), my typical utilization went to 20% (peaking at 90%, but only occasionally and briefly - as it should be) and my remote users were very satisfied. But after installing Skype, even with no active calls and the software sitting "idle", my utilization went back up to 90%. I searched for workarounds or ways to manage its bandwidth consumption, but it's not really designed for managed operation - or may even be designed to work AROUND management. It definitely is designed to work around firewall restrictions, so my technological means to block the traffic were somewhat limited. On the bright side, this sequence of events raised the consequences of installing software without approval from "it'll piss off the IT department" to "you could get fired for it". ;-) Dave Salovesh Information Technology Manager National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund -----Original Message----- From: mcn-l-bounces at mcn.edu [mailto:mcn-l-boun...@mcn.edu] On Behalf Of Dowden, Robin Sent: Thursday, May 28, 2009 10:31 PM To: Museum Computer Network Listserv Subject: [MCN-L] do you Skype? Do you allow Skype in your institution? I've been arguing for its legitimacy as a business tool but our IT department is concerned about misuse and security issues. I'm interested in hearing how/if others are using it, policies, tales of compromised networks as a result of peer-to-peer apps, any relevant or related info you're willing to share. Robin Dowden Director, New Media Initiatives Walker Art Center 1750 Hennepin Avenue Minneapolis, MN 55403 USA T: 612.375.7541 F: 612.375.7575 walkerart.org CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This transmission (including any accompanying attachments) is confidential, is intended only for the individual or entity named above, and may contain privileged, work product, proprietary and/or confidential information that is exempt from disclosure under applicable law. If you are not the intended recipient or otherwise believe you have received this message in error, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution, use of or reliance upon any of the information contained in this transmission is strictly prohibited. Any inadvertent or unauthorized disclosure shall not compromise or waive the confidentiality of this transmission or any applicable attorney-client privilege. If you have received this transmission in error, please immediately notify us at mail1 at walkerart.org and delete this transmission from your computer. _______________________________________________ You are currently subscribed to mcn-l, the listserv of the Museum Computer Network (http://www.mcn.edu) To post to this list, send messages to: mcn-l at mcn.edu To unsubscribe or change mcn-l delivery options visit: http://toronto.mediatrope.com/mailman/listinfo/mcn-l The MCN-L archives can be found at: http://toronto.mediatrope.com/pipermail/mcn-l/ _______________________________________________ You are currently subscribed to mcn-l, the listserv of the Museum Computer Network (http://www.mcn.edu) To post to this list, send messages to: mcn-l at mcn.edu To unsubscribe or change mcn-l delivery options visit: http://toronto.mediatrope.com/mailman/listinfo/mcn-l The MCN-L archives can be found at: http://toronto.mediatrope.com/pipermail/mcn-l/
