Using P2P (incl. Limewire) drops my Internet connection
 

Folks, my problem is similar to one reported by others, but not quite the same. When I use any P2P s/w (such as Limewire or Acquisition), my Internet connection will drop immediately. I am at a University, so I can still see from my Mac my immediate server but nothing beyond. Even after I reboot my Mac, I don't have a connection. The connection will re-establish by itself about 20 minutes or so after I have run the P2P s/w. Any help to deal with this will be mostly appreciated. Please note that I had no problems until a couple of months ago, so I suspect that the latest Apple security releases may have caused the problem, but no one else seems to complain. Please also note that I have checked my installation and everything is as it should be: I have the firewall option off, port 6346 is open and my University does not have any firewall filters activated.

Too many connections being attempted at once? (old incomplete downloads, ultrapeer connections, requests for uploads).
So . . .

-Set the prefs to NOT connect automatically at startup (gives downloads a chance to get settled before you connect)

-limit the number of incomplete downloads

--uncheck "allow ultrapeer" (only 4 or so connections will start, rather than 24+)

--set fewer slots for uploads

However, this sounds like the university network is having trouble with your connections. Is there an admin you can ask about the number of simultaneous connection you can use?

However, this sounds like the university network is having trouble with your connections. Is there an admin you can ask about the number of simultaneous connection you can use? [/B][/QUOTE]

I'll ask and it may well be that it is a more general problem. I just noticed that I have the same problem with PCs and portables. So, it's not just my Mac. Thanks for the info!

Are you using airport router? If so try updating the frimware at apple site. Some firmware versions of airport are known to be very fragile with P2Ps.

Ciao