About the NIU Network

We prioritize traffic so we don't have to block particular programs. File sharing programs receive the lowest priority. Remember, your Internet access is first and foremost for educational purposes.

How busy is the NIU network right now?

How fast is my connection? speedtest.niu.edu

How slow is too slow?

These activities contribute to congestion on the network:

• file-sharing
• distributed computing applications
• streaming media
• network gaming
• basic file transfer if the files involved are large in either size or number.

What you can do

• Disable your file sharing programs
• If you need to transfer large files or want to do lots of downloading, do it during off-peak hours (2am-10am)
• Avoid running FTP servers with lots of content
• Don't use an instant messenger to send files