Port Choking GG

So I get to college and gw is running like crap. However other web applications i use (firefox, streaming audio) are running very fast. I am sure that the school is restricting partially the port that gw runs on. I know there are ways to get around this. Any direction would be helpful.

If you are technically saavy (or willing to learn), install Ethereal. That will tell you everything you need to know and more. Obviously it is helpful to capture packets on both sides of the stream, but capturing on your side is a good start.

Failing that, shift-f10 can give you some network statistics in-game. Also, you could always try calling your network staff. They may not be willing to help you, but they probably will at least tell you what kind of traffic shaping or QoS they are using. Just be very clear that you are interested in gaming (and specify the port, etc.) so they won't think you are trying to compromise their network.

They may have installed ellacoya to monitor packets being sent and/or recieved on your network. Normally this is used to control usage of P2P software by checking the packets you are sending/recieving and limiting the priority of those packets it deems P2P.

I've seen this mistakenly affect quite a few online games, so it maybe an option for you to ask the network admins about.

to azagoth: the admins have said that they do not monitor any packets at all but strictly filter the ports used by most p2p software. So this isnt an issue of packet snooping and filtering but strictly done by port filtering thru a network wide firewall.

I have also seen programs such as your-freedom.net that take all your traffic and put it on port 80, then release the traffic to its original ports via a proxy server in another country so that your traffic will look like web browsing instead of p2p or gaming. Im not sure if this is the kind of utility I would need.

Sorry there will be no further advice given on how to bypass security, it is there for a reason.

cannonfodder