bandwidth priority for VOIP

[gmcbreadtrk]

I have id'd my SunRocket gizmo's IP addy. How can I set up something so that when I use the phone, Windows stops all other internet communication so the VOIP has priority?

I would prefer OpenSource or freeware, but a good pay tool will work too.

[Tuttle]

No personal experience, but NetLimiter seems to get recommended a lot.

[gmcbreadtrk]

Net Limiter only works when you pre set it. As far as I can tell; you can't use it to sense when a specific application or network IP starts using bandwidth to give priority to that app.

I have been using NL for several years so am familiar with it, but perhaps you can educate me?

[TechZ]

Just forward that port that the VoIP application uses? that way it gets priority when being used, if you have a router that is. There is a way to give applications priority in windows, other than via task manager. Just cant seem to remember.

I recommend NL for people who want to throttle bandwidth on certain apps, it *could* be used to do what you want as well.

[gmcbreadtrk]

See, I know how to get NL to limit an application's bandwidth use. Is there a way to use it to give priority to an app too? That would be just the ticket. I use Multiplicity to use one mouse and keyboard to control my 4 home networked machines. Multiplicity is the app that is causing my VOIP to break up. If I turn it off, my VOIP is crystal clear.

[gmcbreadtrk]

Well I have finally learned how to use Ethereal to figure out what IP the Gizmo is using.

Anyone know a way to use windows to give priority to that IP only when there is traffic on it?

I have no routers or hardware firewalls. My connection goes from the wall > cable modem > PC with 2 nics > 24 port unmanaged switch > rest of the PC's in the house and the Gizmo.

[Byan]

Well I have finally learned how to use Ethereal to figure out what IP the Gizmo is using.

Anyone know a way to use windows to give priority to that IP only when there is traffic on it?

I have no routers or hardware firewalls. My connection goes from the wall > cable modem > PC with 2 nics > 24 port unmanaged switch > rest of the PC's in the house and the Gizmo.

what do you use as a software router?

what you want to do is called traffic shaping
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traffic_shaping

Not many Win32 firewalls allow for this, and the ones that do are not cheap. I would recommend using linux for this purpose. google traffic shaping and see what you can find. I don't have any experiance on this inpaticular as I have not had any reason to create a linux firewall yet. (no broadband here)

BTW- it does not make sense to give an IP priority only when it has traffic.
what you want to do is give it priority all the time, that way it will get first dibs at bandwidth when it needs it.