NetLimiter
Encyclopedia
NetLimiter is client-side traffic shaping
Traffic shaping
Traffic shaping is the control of computer network traffic in order to optimize or guarantee performance, improve latency, and/or increase usable bandwidth for some kinds of packets by delaying other kinds of packets that meet certain criteria...

 and monitoring
Network traffic measurement
In computer networks, network traffic measurement is the process of measuring the amount and type of traffic on a particular network. This is especially important with regard to effective bandwidth management.- Tools :...

 software for the Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...

 operating system
Operating system
An operating system is a set of programs that manage computer hardware resources and provide common services for application software. The operating system is the most important type of system software in a computer system...

. Unlike most traffic-shaping utilities, which are based on centrally managed hardware, NetLimiter is a software-only solution. This has the advantage of being less expensive to deploy, but can result in being more difficult to manage its use across more than one computer.

While it has a significant market among more technically-minded computer users, in medium-to-large networks it becomes difficult for administrators to maintain multiple copies of configuration files. It is, however, useful for simulating slow links between departments showing how the applications will work when deployed to slower sites.

It is often lumped together with other free or shareware in articles that present the reader with 'essential' applications and poweruser-type utilities.

Features and versions

The software is available in three versions: the freeware
Freeware
Freeware is computer software that is available for use at no cost or for an optional fee, but usually with one or more restricted usage rights. Freeware is in contrast to commercial software, which is typically sold for profit, but might be distributed for a business or commercial purpose in the...

 Monitor and two paid for versions, Lite and Pro. Monitor provides real-time monitoring and statistics. Lite provides monitoring and limits, while the Pro version includes all Monitor and Lite features together with additional features including the ability to act as a firewall, remote administration via a webpage, and filtering.

The product has its own programming interface, allowing integration
System integration
In engineering, system integration is the bringing together of the component subsystems into one system and ensuring that the subsystems function together as a system...

 with other software.

Version 1.3 of the software has been criticized by cNet
CNET
CNET is a tech media website that publishes news articles, blogs, and podcasts on technology and consumer electronics. Originally founded in 1994 by Halsey Minor and Shelby Bonnie, it was the flagship brand of CNET Networks and became a brand of CBS Interactive through CNET Networks' acquisition...

 as using too much memory (12 MB).

Version 3 was released on August 31, 2010.

Similar products

  • cFosSpeed
    CFosSpeed
    cFosSpeed is a software solution for traffic shaping for theWindows operating system. It improves Internetlatency while maintaining high transfer rates.The program attaches itself as a device driver to the Windows...

  • SeriousBit NetBalancer
  • TrafficShaperXP
    TrafficShaperXP
    Traffic Shaper XP is a traffic shaping utility for the Windows operating system, which can be used to control the rate at which specific programs upload/download data.- Criticism :...

  • Trickle, a Userland Bandwidth Shaper for Unix
    Unix
    Unix is a multitasking, multi-user computer operating system originally developed in 1969 by a group of AT&T employees at Bell Labs, including Ken Thompson, Dennis Ritchie, Brian Kernighan, Douglas McIlroy, and Joe Ossanna...

    -like Systems
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