Thread: Force applications to use different connections

I've already looked over a lot of discussion over load balancing but they require either a hardware or a separate linux machine.
What I realized was most people looking for this do not exactly require load balancing. For example, I need that my heavy downloads do not affect my browsing. I suppose its fairly easier to restrict an entire applications to send and receive packets using just one out of two(/multiple) connections of user's choice. That way I can use dial-up for firefox and broadband for downloads/torrents.
So, my question is if this is possible ? (I searched but couldn't find anything).

This is not possible without load balancer.

Only one internet connection to ONE system possible.
The faster connection, if it fails the "dialup" will keep connection working.
2.Imagine wifi connection and LAN connection to same computer .
to work at same time. Not possible.
3. speeds of different ISPs will not add up.

Originally Posted by essbebe

Only one internet connection to ONE system possible.
The faster connection, if it fails the "dialup" will keep connection working.
2.Imagine wifi connection and LAN connection to same computer .
to work at same time. Not possible.
3. speeds of different ISPs will not add up.

Actually it does not even depend upon slower or faster connection.

The second connection initiated will override the first connection. If the second connection drops, the first takes over. If the first connection drops, then it does not make any difference anyway.

I have tested this BSNL and Reliance Netconnect+ together at my home.

Originally Posted by essbebe

3. speeds of different ISPs will not add up.

Download accelerators should perhaps look into that. It's not like each segment request should be initialized by same IP.(right?)

Originally Posted by essbebe

Only one internet connection to ONE system possible.

hmm that just gave me an idea- I could use a virtual machine to do all the torrenting. Better yet, I could set VM to be a proxy server. I now just gotta figure out how. @just4kix Since you have two connections, have you ever tried that ?

On a side note, is there an inherently un-solvable issue that requires an entire system to be assigned a single IP ? I mean couldn't that restriction be forced on an application level rather than entire system level ?

I never got around to learn how to set up a proxy server but today I found something rather interesting. It's a symbian application that allows two or more phones to provide a combined transfer speed over wifi. What that means is you can take two n95s (with 3g connection giving you average of say 1mbps each), run this application on both of them and configure, and you'll have a combined speed of 2mbps that you can access through wifi in your laptop!

JoikuBoost joins multiple 3G connections from mobile phones and operator networks into one larger unified and shared bit pipe, accessible over WiFi from e.g. laptops.

With JoikuBoost you can achieve more bandwidth as the internet traffic routes via several 3G networks using JoikuBoost protocol.

They claim that with two phones speed gain is 1.5 times, and with four phones its 3.4 times, so I'm guessing it's more than just load-balancing. (right?)
They does however also say that

the "Boosting effect" can be seen most clearly when downloading large multiple files simultaneously

which kinda makes sense.
Since I'm too young to post any links yet, you can google "JoikuBoost"

So I guess after all, sharing internet connections to increase speed is actually possible! I really hope someone takes this concept and apply it to regular connections as well. In fact, I think they should've done that one first, I mean if you wanted high speed, wouldn't you rather connect multiple low cost landline broadband connections instead of 3g?

how come i know which internet connection is working for which software???

sorry for being so novice.. but i never seen anything like that.. my three connections are running at one time and the fastest takes the scene...