Unable to browse the web while using bittorrent

Kobrakai · 19 Dec 2007 at 02:46

For some reason just recently (as in the last couple of weeks) I have this problem where if I am running bittorrent I am unable to view web pages at all. I don’t mean that its slow, I mean that if I leave a page loading for half an hour it will still be loading, yet some websites I get ‘Server Not Found’ instantly. I also cannot access my router config while using bittorrent either.

I understand that bittorrent puts a lot of pressure on the connection etc. However I never had this problem before, it just suddenly started happening. Even with a single download getting only 5-10kbps downstream and 0kbps upstream will cause this. And when I close the bittorrent application it often takes as long as 15 minutes before I can browse the net again.

Even stranger I can still ping websites fine while I have this problem.

A2Z · 19 Dec 2007 at 02:57

tried limiting the number of connections?

Nash · 19 Dec 2007 at 03:42

Are you using Port 80 to connect to Bittorrent trackers? Port 80 is also the HTML port. Try changing the port that BT uses in your BT client.

tres · 19 Dec 2007 at 09:11

sp2 limits the number of concurrent connections
you can find patches to disable this
else change the bittorrent max connection number

daven1986 · 19 Dec 2007 at 10:15

as said above lower the number of connections in your bittorrent client. this should work.

Kobrakai · 20 Dec 2007 at 00:26

I just tried lowering the number of connections to 50 (previously 200) and all seems fine. But wont this reduce download speeds? If I set it any higher than 50 I have the problem with web pages.

I have been using the same settings for the number of connections for years without any problems as they are the recommended settings for my line. I don’t see how this could suddenly become a problem?

bum · 20 Dec 2007 at 12:11

I had the exact same problem before I saw this thread. Also my router would crash usually if I leave my pc on for the entire night to download. Now with lowered connection number in Bittorrent, I don't have this problem no more. *(my router still crashes though)

randal · 20 Dec 2007 at 12:16

Is this with Virgin Media by any chance?

bum · 20 Dec 2007 at 12:51

randal24 said:
Is this with Virgin Media by any chance?

Doesn't matter. Its not the ISP side but it's your PC that's doing it I think

aftershxck · 20 Dec 2007 at 13:51

So isn't there a way to just heighten the amount of overall connections made by the PC rather than having to decrease everything?

I get exactly the same problem (no access to web pages, router page doesn't respond - but skype/CS/MSN responsds still). ATM it happens when I try to open another instance of MSN messenger - just completely kills my net... bizarre :confused:

randal · 20 Dec 2007 at 13:58

bun said:
Doesn't matter. Its not the ISP side but it's your PC that's doing it I think

I beg to differ, it does matter when ISPs are trialling traffic shaping techniques and are known to throttle connections.

Kobrakai · 20 Dec 2007 at 14:54

I’m on BT until the 27th when I’m set to be changed over to Entanet. I don’t think it’s the ISP though as this wouldn’t affect being able to view my router config surely?

Dazza_Random · 20 Dec 2007 at 18:27

Event ID 4226 TRUST ME.... basially windows can only handle 10 TCP/IP connections per second... thats why when browsing the internet is slow or in your case i guess not possible... Seeing as you are using Vista 64 bit you can patch your OS i have done this both with win XP 32 and Vista 32 - what i currently use now...

Dazza_Random · 20 Dec 2007 at 18:31

Sorry google around and find the patch or fix i have used the one thats works with vista and hey - faster DL speeds and no more event ID 4226!

benjo plz. · 20 Dec 2007 at 18:35

Dazza_Random said:
Event ID 4226 TRUST ME.... basially windows can only handle 10 TCP/IP connections per second... thats why when browsing the internet is slow or in your case i guess not possible... Seeing as you are using Vista 64 bit you can patch your OS i have done this both with win XP 32 and Vista 32 - what i currently use now...

Er nope, XP limits the number of half open connections to 10.

chris74 · 20 Dec 2007 at 20:04

This used to happen to me in the days before i used newsgroups with uTorrent.

I simply restricted my upload speed to 30kb/s and that would allow me to browse the net.

BoB3rt · 20 Dec 2007 at 21:38

i used to get this problem...as sed above default i fink 10 is the amount of half-connection avaliable u can raise this but i find in general the torrent agent will use these added half -connections to try and connect to more downloads... i never found away round it...

..but i suppose if say u have 25 half-connections and limit the torrent agent to 15 u will have 10 left for browsing etc...

but it doesnt seem to work like that either coz it will still use the half connections to find more ... :S ...so basically i find.. u want to surf, DON't download =) ...

(ad love a solution)

tolien · 20 Dec 2007 at 21:55

I think you're missing the point - the problem's the router running out of memory to store its NAT table with all the connections that are being opened.
Hacking Windows to allow even more half open connections will only make the problem worse.

The solution is to either open less connections (easy, change a setting in your client, probably won't make any noticeable difference to transfer rates) or make your router expire NAT table entries quicker (potentially difficult, might be easy). Both will take some experimentation to get the right level that doesn't cause a problem.

benjo plz. · 20 Dec 2007 at 22:05

yeah, that sounds about right, what router is it?