Direct linking or bandwidth theft is a huge problem on the internet.
What is bandwidth? Bandwidth is the usage of a website, measured in
bytes, and is charged to a website in monthly increments usually.
When you go to a website and the page starts to download, bandwidth
is being used. The background graphics, the title, the graphics, midi
files, streaming video, etc all use bandwidth.

When you visit a website and decide you like the graphics and directly
link/or copy the item and then place it on another site like this one,
you are stealing the bandwidth of that site. Essentially, the item is
still on the server where you found it, and they are being charged for
the bytes used here as well as there.
Most people that do this are completely unaware of the consequences
it has for the owner of the web site. To put it in dollar figures, it can
easily reach into $ thousands and it is often the cause of certain
websites shutting down. And why most free e-card sites have
vanished or now charge for their use. Free media on the internet is
definitely in jeopardy as a result of bandwidth theft. It also slows
down the loading of the pages.
I guess what I'll saying is, it would be better if we upload a picture and
put it on the server rather than link it with another site to this site and
making the system bog down. If RHP gets charged for the amount of
actitivy, then the charges are going to go up with all these links in
people's profile pointing to other sites, If we have 50000 people
logged on doing something and they all have links in their profile, the
system will slow down consirable.
Just a thought the fonder.
Bob 😉

You are quite right – in fact, we have just had to order extra bandwidth
this month as we were incurring fines for excessive usage (beyond our
contract). This is because of site popularity - but it does illustrate the
problem. It is not right to steal someone else’s bandwidth.

If someone used the RHP logo as an avatar on another site, when the
image was hosted on this site, I too would be pretty annoyed.

Most ISPs offer personal web - so the best advice is to use it. (I
even use my ISPs space for my avatar)

-Russ

Most ISPs offer personal web - so the best advice is to use it. (I
even use my ISPs space for my avatar)

-Russ
[/b]

Originally posted by mwmiller
Russ, my ISP includes a website, but I don't know how to put my
graphics onto the site. Can you give us some simple instruction on
how to go about that?

regards, Marc

Thanks.

I think at this point I will forget about adding any graphics or pictures.
Sounds like anything added will require this site to maintain a link to
someplace else on the net, which will increase the burden on the RHP
server, which will in turn increase cost and slow down access to normal
functions.

regards, Marc

Originally posted by Rhymester

Russ - if I'm reading this correctly, isn't this what we do when we link
to an avatar stored in our own web space?

Originally posted by mwmiller

Sounds like anything added will require this site to maintain a link to
someplace else on the net, which will increase the burden on the RHP
server, which will in turn increase cost and slow down access to normal
functions.

I had been linked to a couple of graphics on other sites, but they
specifically ask you not to link to them, but rather to download
whatever you want, so I saved them but don't know what to do with
them at this point.

My isp includes a free website, but I don't know how to use it. I
expect I could put these free graphics there and then link my site to
RHP to use them, but have no idea how to go about doing this.

Do you have any quick and easy instructions on how to do this, Russ?

thanks, Marc

Originally posted by Rhymester
Marc, which ISP are you using?

Andrew

I've already said this in our in-game messages but to avoid a hanging
thread....

Your ISP's help file suggests a piece of File Transfer software (FTP) to
download.
It also gives you instructions on how to use it to copy files from your
computer to your web space.

Good luck Marc!

Andrew

I recommend you get yourself a good FTP client.
Try Absolute FTP – my preference. It only has a trial period of 30
days – but it really is very good and easy to use. (Free ones to
exist –but 30 days will be long enough to get done what you want to
do)

Download here:
http://www.vandyke.com/download/absoluteftp/index.html

Your ISP should be able to tell you your FTP address for your web
space. (It should be in your documentation they send you when you
opened the account – otherwise just email their support) You will
need a use name and a password too.

Install Absolute FTP – click the top left icon with the lightening icon.
Enter your details (make sure anonymous FTP isn’t checked)
Then connect.

You should be able to drag files around just like windows explorer.

As simple as that. 🙂

-Russ

That worked fine. Thanks, Russ!

regards, Marc