Windows 10 uses customers' computers to distribute updates

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Jedsdad

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#177424 2-Aug-2015 10:36

I came across the article in Stuff.co.nz
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/70732877/windows-10-uses-customers-computers-to-distribute-updates

I was not aware that this was occurring but for those of us on Data Caps it could be an issue

Check out this Microsoft Webpage
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/windows-update-delivery-optimization-faq

Microsoft Update Delivery Optimization
Windows Update Delivery Optimization lets you get Windows updates and Windows Store apps from sources in addition to Microsoft. This can help you get updates and apps more quickly if you have a limited or unreliable Internet connection. And if you own more than one PC, it can reduce the amount of Internet bandwidth needed to keep all of your PCs up-to-date. Delivery Optimization also sends updates and apps from your PC to other PCs on your local network or PCs on the Internet.

I have changed my settings to send updates to other PC's on my local network only

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#1357008 2-Aug-2015 10:47

Thank you for that

I have made the change

Who would have known !

scuwp

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#1357014 2-Aug-2015 10:50

People still have data caps? How quaint...

Lazy is such an ugly word, I prefer to call it selective participation

Jase2985

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#1357015 2-Aug-2015 10:53

scuwp: People still have data caps? How quaint...

could be RBI or something like that

markl

348 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1357019 2-Aug-2015 11:02

Jase2985:
scuwp: People still have data caps? How quaint...

could be RBI or something like that

Actually, in spite of the (I hope) whimsical, sarcastic original comment, I'd suggest that MOST normal New Zealanders have data caps.

Hell, I'm a massive geek and *I* have a data cap!! It's 150GB per month, so it's huge, but there is still a cap.

Having said that, I doubt that windows update downloads would "break the bank" for any but the smallest of caps. If you've only got 1GB per month or something then perhaps you could have something to worry about but for anyone else, it's surely not an issue

Mark

1653 posts

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#1357024 2-Aug-2015 11:09

scuwp: People still have data caps? How quaint...

Think a little harder on the topic ... by pulling the updates from a computer on your home network you are not just reducing the household/business bandwidth use you are also reducing your local areas bandwidth use and the whole countries bandwidth use .. leaves capacity free for other stuff.
It's actually quite a nice thing to implement, though I'm sure the hackers types will be trying to exploit it.

Detruire

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#1357028 2-Aug-2015 11:16

Jase2985:
scuwp: People still have data caps? How quaint...

could be RBI or something like that

Or are just low users... for instance, it'd be a waste of money moving my parents to an unlimited plan when they only use 1-3GB/month.

rm *

Sideface

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#1357053 2-Aug-2015 11:41

markl: .... Hell, I'm a massive geek and *I* have a data cap!! It's 150GB per month, so it's huge, but there is still a cap. ...

Some people on high-speed connections would consider 150GB to be a busy day's usage.

It's all a matter of perspective.

Sideface

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Shop now for Lenovo laptops and other devices (affiliate link).

markl

348 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1357059 2-Aug-2015 11:50

Sideface:
markl: .... Hell, I'm a massive geek and *I* have a data cap!! It's 150GB per month, so it's huge, but there is still a cap. ...

Some people on high-speed connections would consider 150GB to be a busy day's usage.

It's all a matter of perspective.

You just helped illustrate my point btw...the comment I was responding to was tainted with someone elses personal perspective, they showed their ignorance of the situation that most other people find themselves in, and in a very arrogant manner at that.

Jedsdad

120 posts

Master Geek

#1357067 2-Aug-2015 12:02

I guess you must expect some snide remarks from some people, it seems very common on geekzone.

Some people may be loathe to post anything on here because of the responses they may get

If you dont have any constructive comments to make, good or bad, then dont make any!

nolanz

83 posts

Master Geek

#1357083 2-Aug-2015 12:24

Here Here.
It really does seem that some people get more satisfaction in getting their numbers up with useless comments than genuinely trying to help people who do not know what they claim to know.
Another thing which can cause annoyance, is referring to people as newbies, just because they have not posted a lot.

My mother always told me, "Empty vessels make most sound".

jamesrt

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#1357084 2-Aug-2015 12:24

Jedsdad: but for those of us on Data Caps it could be an issue

If you're worried about having a cap; then there was this section on the FAQ page:

Windows 10 won't automatically download updates or apps if it detects that your PC is using a metered connection. Similarly, Delivery Optimization won’t automatically download or send parts of updates or apps to other PCs on the Internet if it detects that you're using a metered connection.

If you use a Wi‑Fi connection that is metered or capped, make sure you identify it as a metered connection. Here’s how:

Go to Start , then Settings > Network & Internet > Wi‑Fi > Advanced options.
Use the toggle under Set as metered connection to set your Wi‑Fi connection as metered.

Personally, I'm more curious about how this connection traverses the NATting of my broadband router - as per 99% of people's home connections, my internal PCs are on non-internet routable RFC1918 addresses - how are they supposed to be accessed from an upstream anyway, unless Windows auto-magically opens a "known" port on the router?

Keeping it set to "local PCs" sounds like a good idea to me.

Rikkitic

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#1357086 2-Aug-2015 12:36

Also an RBI user with a data cap. There are a lot of us.

Plesse igmore amd axxept applogies in adbance fir anu typos

ubergeeknz

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#1357087 2-Aug-2015 12:40

jamesrt:
Jedsdad: but for those of us on Data Caps it could be an issue

If you're worried about having a cap; then there was this section on the FAQ page:
Windows 10 won't automatically download updates or apps if it detects that your PC is using a metered connection. Similarly, Delivery Optimization won’t automatically download or send parts of updates or apps to other PCs on the Internet if it detects that you're using a metered connection. If you use a Wi‑Fi connection that is metered or capped, make sure you identify it as a metered connection. Here’s how:

Go to Start , then Settings > Network & Internet > Wi‑Fi > Advanced options.
Use the toggle under Set as metered connection to set your Wi‑Fi connection as metered.

Personally, I'm more curious about how this connection traverses the NATting of my broadband router - as per 99% of people's home connections, my internal PCs are on non-internet routable RFC1918 addresses - how are they supposed to be accessed from an upstream anyway, unless Windows auto-magically opens a "known" port on the router?

Keeping it set to "local PCs" sounds like a good idea to me.

This is all very well. But most users would not have a *clue* to do this or even that it would be an issue. ISPs should probably brace for a whole lot of customers with overage in the near future.

I understand why Microsoft have done this, it's a smart move and one I've long wanted to see in Enterprise update distribution at least, but not telling people that you will be using their bandwidth to allow other customers to download updates is a bit on the nose.

markl

348 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1357093 2-Aug-2015 12:52

ubergeeknz:]

This is all very well. But most users would not have a *clue* to do this or even that it would be an issue. ISPs should probably brace for a whole lot of customers with overage in the near future.

I understand why Microsoft have done this, it's a smart move and one I've long wanted to see in Enterprise update distribution at least, but not telling people that you will be using their bandwidth to allow other customers to download updates is a bit on the nose.

I disagree. Like I said earlier, I doubt that must Windows updates are large enough over a month to cause caps to be blown. Obviously there are exceptions to that, of course, but I can't see there being a massive deluge of people with this problem ask calling their isp to find out why they've gone over their cap

ubergeeknz

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Vocus

#1357095 2-Aug-2015 12:53

markl:
ubergeeknz:]

This is all very well. But most users would not have a *clue* to do this or even that it would be an issue. ISPs should probably brace for a whole lot of customers with overage in the near future.

I understand why Microsoft have done this, it's a smart move and one I've long wanted to see in Enterprise update distribution at least, but not telling people that you will be using their bandwidth to allow other customers to download updates is a bit on the nose.

I disagree. Like I said earlier, I doubt that must Windows updates are large enough over a month to cause caps to be blown. Obviously there are exceptions to that, of course, but I can't see there being a massive deluge of people with this problem ask calling their isp to find out why they've gone over their cap

It's the principle of it, for me. Also no matter how small the update, if your system reseeds it (for want of a better term) 100x or 1000x, or say there are errors and it is re-downloaded infinitely, it will add up.

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