Computer Network Information

To the Editors:

As most of you know, the internet transmission speeds to/from the OC residential network have been quite sluggish at times this semester. This is primarily due to the widespread use of P2P file sharing (including music sharing) programs such as KaZaA, LimeWire, AudioGalaxy and others. These programs devour most all of the available bandwidth on our RESNET, thus making the network function very poorly for other work, including use of the network for classes and academic functions.
We have taken action to restrain much of this outbound file sharing traffic, but because of the nature of how these programs work, it is impossible to completely control it, while still allowing its use. PLEASE keep your use of these programs to a minimum. If you do use them, it is imperative that you make sure that FILE-SHARING (for outbound uploading by external users from your computer) IS TURNED OFF. If you don’t know how to do this, please refer to the web site below, or contact your RCC (rcc@oberlin.edu).
If it proves impossible to contain the file sharing traffic through this voluntary means, we will be required to take action that will eliminate completely this sort of use of the Internet at Oberlin.
WITH REGARD TO SHARING COPYRIGHTED MUSIC OVER THE INTERNET WITHOUT PERMISSION, THIS IS A VIOLATION OF FEDERAL COPYRIGHT LAW, AS WELL AS A VIOLATION OF THE ACCEPTABLE USE POLICIES AT OBERLIN COLLEGE. IF YOU SHARE SUCH MATERIAL, OBERLIN ACCEPTS NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY CONSEQUENCES TO YOU FOR YOUR VIOLATION OF COPYRIGHT LAW AND POLICY.
(http://www.oberlin.edu/cit/docs/general/policy.html )
IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, PLEASE SEND A MESSAGE TO RCC@OBERLIN.EDU OR CONSULT@OBERLIN.EDU
For information on how to turn off outbound file-sharing, see:
http://www.oberlin.edu/cit/docs/general/filesharing.html

–John E. Bucher
Director of Information Technology