How can I limit a users bandwidth in Windows Server 2008 R2 [closed]

Solution 1:

There is no real way to solve an HR problem like this with IT policies and hacks. The best possible solution would be to implement a solution from OpenDNS or many others to simply block content on your network that has nothing to do with your company.

Torrents should not be allowed on a corporate network, there are by far way TOO many possible security holes that you would have to constantly plug.

Your tools to combat this should consist of a strong Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) or verbage in your employee handbook. This gives you more leverage when working with your HR team to control users and their actions while using corporate resources. You can combine this with OpenDNS to enforce the rules in some regards. Either way, enforcement comes down to human policies and intervention, not technical.

Solution 2:

There is no native tool in Windows Server that allows you to throttle a user's bandwidth. This is largely because that's a function of a firewall or network device, not a server.

If you want to address the issue with technology, you need to do so on your firewall, router or switch and simply throttle whatever port he's plugged into, as well as blocking torrents at your firewall. That's a security hole anyone could drive an 18 wheeler though.

The other, better option (probably best done in addition to changes at your firewall) is to have HR deal with it, as, at its core, it's an HR problem. You have some asshole who doesn't see anything wrong with impacting every other user and creating large workloads for IT by abusing the corporate infrastructure for personal gain. And it honestly doesn't matter how much you think you need him, because people like that always cause more problems than they fix.

EDIT:

As @Cole brought up, the legal consequences of having a user torrenting something from a corporate internet connection are pretty steep, and you should probably mention that to the appropriate person in your corporation. If that doesn't bring appropriate action, I'd log his torrent activities and email it the appropriate trade group (MPAA/RIAA/BSA/etc.) who definitely WILL initiate "corrective" action through the courts.