Topic: Optimizing Apache for Downloads

[dprutean]

I have a server on Hetzner, where I run Apache. There are some web pages and software kits to download, about 150Mb each. Sometimes in the evening, the download speed gets very slow.
I wanted to ask about your recommendation about how to limit the traffic per client ( not that somebody clicks the same download link multiple times ) or any other suggestions you have.

[tangent]

There have been a number of bandwidth limiting modules for Apache over the years, but at best they limit traffic per connection, not per client IP.

The standard module mod_ratelimit is pretty basic, whilst development of the more configurable mod_bw stalled over a decade ago. Nonetheless, Steffen has previously compiled up mod_bw-0.92, made available on the download page; see https://www.apachelounge.com/viewtopic.php?p=20951

Traffic management is big business for service providers these days. Nonetheless, this module should help you put some restrictions on your download kits.

[maba]

The other option is to do that at the OS firewall level (assuming you are using a Linux box, quite likely at Hetzner). Iptables / Nftables can throttle bandwidth for you. However this needs to be balanced with the Apache config. If you throttle bandwidth, the individual download will take longer and therefore the overall number of connections, needed on the Apache side, might grow.