34.6 Changing the BITS Maximum Network Bandwidth Setting

Windows XP includes a Group Policy setting for the maximum amount of the workstation’s idle network bandwidth that BITS uses. By default, this setting is not configured, which enables BITS to use all of the workstation’s available idle bandwidth.

IMPORTANT:The BITS maximum network bandwidth setting is available as a Group Policy on Windows XP only. Windows 2000 does not include a Group Policy setting for BITS maximum bandwidth.

If you have BITS running on a large number of workstations, this might impact your network. To reduce this impact, during periods of high utilization you can limit the amount of bandwidth available to BITS.

The following steps provide instructions for using a Windows Group Policy to configure the BITS maximum bandwidth setting. The instructions assume that you are familiar with how to use ZENworks policies. If you need additional instructions, see Section 15.0, Setting Up User and Workstation Package Policies.

  1. In ConsoleOne on a Windows XP workstation, right-click the Workstation Package, click Properties, click the Policies tab > Windows XP.

    If you do not have a Workstation Package already created, see Section 11.0, Creating Policy Packages

  2. Enable the Windows Group Policy, then click Properties to display the Windows Group Policy page.

  3. Enter a location where you want the new Group Policy file created, or select an existing Group Policy file.

  4. Click Edit Policies to launch the Windows Group Policy Editor.

  5. Expand the console tree to display the BITS setting (Local Computer Policy > Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Network > Background Intelligent Transfer Service).

  6. Double-click the Maximum network bandwidth that BITS uses setting, then configure the settings as desired. Refer to the Help for details about the setting.

    Notice that you can also configure the Timeout (days) for inactive jobs setting. This setting corresponds to the No Progress Timeout setting (configured on the Application object’s BITS Settings page). It is used if you select the Use System Setting option for the No Progress Timeout setting (see Section 34.5, Changing the Default Settings for a BITS Job).

  7. When finished, save your changes and exit the Group Policy Editor.

  8. Make any additional changes, schedule the policy, and make associations as necessary. For information, see Section 15.0, Setting Up User and Workstation Package Policies.