A fundamental problem, though, is that uploads are *intended* to support
large files.  Picture-sized uploads are plenty annoying if they are
abused, and you'd hate to set the threshold so small that pictures can't
be uploaded.  Even sound snippets and video clips will be sad to miss. 
How many communities can really pick a useful threshold?

In short, the annoying users are using Swikis just as they are intended!
 Swikis are a free-form place to collaborate, including the posting of
files.  The difference is that these guys aren't bothering to get their
*own* swiki, and instead are hitchiking on someone else's.  Everything
you cut from the bad users, you also cut from the good ones.

The swikis really depend on community spirit to stay reasonable.  Thus,
a much better expedient, IMHO, is to put passwords on the swiki so that
only people *in* the community may use it.  Then you can use regular
social pressure to keep things in line.

Incidentally, I have learned that there is a Kerberos extension to HTTP.
 Kerberos allows you to enter a password when you log in, and then for
all programs on your computer to be able to prove who you are.  If
someone wants to really put a barrier between the *in* people and the
*out* people, then Kerberos seems like an excellent technology to use. 
GT even has a Kerberos server with the prism accounts on it, that may be
used.  I am not sure, however, which browsers have the necessary
extension.


-Lex




"Jochen F. Rick" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> Theoretically, you can control maximum upload size, but it is not 
> implemented yet. I'm working on something in that direction though.
> 
> Peace and Luck!
> 
> Je77
> 
> On Mon, Jan 13, 2003 at 02:18:15PM +0100, Julian Rohrhuber wrote:
> > recently there have been quite a couple of people
> > (usually kids) using our swiki as a file sharing
> > base. This can be very funny, but it can become
> > quite a waste of space. We had to restrict uploads
> > with a password. Nevertheless it might be nicer
> > to be able to control the maximum upload size.
> > Is this possible in principle?

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