Techie Tools for the Internet and for Home Networks Connecticut

Preston Gralla is filling in for Laura Blackwell, who is on maternity leave.

Where do you spend most of your computing life? Probably on a network and online, either at work or at home. But while you probably know quite a bit about how to master problems with applications such as word processors, you may feel out in the cold when it comes to networking.

Downloads can help. This month, I've gathered four downloads that will help you take control of your network and of the way you use the Internet. With them, you can set bandwidth limits for individual users on your home network, easily share files with others, master the ping command, and become a networking troubleshooting pro--all without having to go to night school.

Here's a familiar problem: You're downloading a very large file--such as an application--on your home network; and while that operation is going on, your Web browsing slows to a crawl. You'd prefer to slow the download and commit most of your bandwidth to your Web browsing.

That's exactly what NetLimiter is designed to do. It enables you to specify a maximum amount of bandwidth to devote to certain applications and connections, while letting other applications and users get as much bandwidth as they wish. You can fine-tune these limits to a surprising degree, even setting separate upload and download limits on a per-connection or per-application basis.

Aside from letting you allocate bandwidth limits, the program does a fine job of monitoring your network use and showing you current upload and download usage, bandwidth usage over time, and the like.

Be aware, however, that NetLimiter doesn't work properly with Windows Vista, though its developer says that a Vista-compatible version is in the works.

NetLimiter is free to try for 28 days; it costs $30 to register.

File-sharing software has developed a bad reputation over the years, in part because so much of it comes riddled with adware or spyware. To make matters worse, many file-sharing programs put little effort into helping you find particular files--and when you do find them, downloads can take a long time.

That's why, when it comes to sharing files, your best bet these days is software that uses the BitTorrent protocol. With BitTorrent, you download bits and pieces of each file from multiple locations, which speeds up the process.

But while the BitTorrent protocol is quite useful, the BitTorrent client is less so. Instead of relying on it, try Torrent Swapper. This free, open-source software is superb at helping you find the files you want, and then downloading them. You can start and stop downloads, change the priority of files on your download list, set download speeds, and much more.

Where this program really shines, though, is in its social networking features. It allows you to download files that friends and acquaintances have downloaded--just press a button, and you'll see the list. In addition, you can recommend files to others and rate files.

If you've given up on file sharing because the process was too painful, try it again; with Torrent Swapper it might seem worthwhile again.

If you run a firewall on your PC, it may ask you whether it should permit Torrent Swapper to access the Internet. Be sure to give your approval; otherwise, the program won't work.