Re: Using Skype from corporate network ... ?

From: DA (test_at_1-script_dot_com_at_foo.com)
Date: 09/10/05 

Date: 10 Sep 2005 02:27:35 -0400

Walter Roberson wrote:

> Perhaps they aren't security issues in your security domain, but
> where I am, one of my duties as security administrator is to
> ensure that we don't get hit with big bandwidth bills because some
> program running internally has found a way to subvert firewall policy.

Walter, is the excessive bandwidth usage by Skype a sort of perceived
issue you *feel* you have to take care of as an administrator or you have
actually measured or at least estimated the amount of traffic generated by
any particular number of Skype nodes in your network? If so, is it
considerable as compared to other, 'legitimate' uses of Internet in your
organization?

The reason I'm asking this is that we have three Skype nodes in the
network that has a T1 Internet connection. One of the three is always on,
the other two are laptops - get in and out. You'd think that with the
relatively good both-way connection Skype would have already figured out
the way to exploit this always-on node (more than a year old). However, I
cannot see any unusual pattern in the traffic. I have to admit though that
we do not have any software or hardware to actually measure the traffic
on-site, just what the ISP tells us.

What would you suggest to use (software/hardware) if one goes about
actually measuring how much bandwidth gets 'wasted' on the 'Skype hub'
function as oppose to regular usage for *one's* calls? BTW, I think they
call this 'hub' a 'super-node' and I think it's voluntary (although I have
to re-read the TOS to be sure)

I guess, I agree with the spirit of sharing your resources in order to be
able to occasionally bypass the toll, but I would like to know how much
we put into the system and if it’s worth the benefit.

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