run multiple instances of Alt.Binz?

[spod]

I use more than one server, so it is often helpful to be able to use two of them at the same time. (I try not to use my paid block account for any file that is available on the free server. )

It seems that Alt.Binz does not allow setting each file for a specific server. A workaround to that problem would be to allow multiple instances of Alt.Binz (separately installed, with each installation in it's own folder and with different server settings configured)

Or is there a reason why Alt.binz cannot be made to allow multiple instances running at the same time if they use a different server and port?

[ritekgirl]

...Is there a reason why Alt.binz cannot be made to allow multiple instances running at the same time if they use a different server and port?

I would also like to run multiple instances of Alt.binz - perferably using the same server??  So that I could be downloading 2 different items at the same time.

Is this possible?

Ritekgirl

[Rdl]

What is the point running 2 instances at the same time downloading different things? You'll certanly not download both things faster.

[spod]

What is the point running 2 instances at the same time downloading different things? You'll certanly not download both things faster.

I can think of only one reason why downloading multiple files simultaneously from the same server would offer any advantage over downloading the files serially. (there are also reasons for keeping specific servers available only for specific files.) That is if you might want to later reassign the server the file downloads from, you must otherwise wait until the file starts downloading before you can change the server thread.

Agreed, the downloads won't be faster, but it allows more control over a greater number of files  -- with less waiting -- since there will  be more simultaneous download threads that can each therefore be manually altered.

The reason I originally requested allowing the running of multiple instances of Alt.Binz is because I was wanting to keep a server in reserve for specific files only, and Alt.Binz apparently won't allow this - as it will automatically try to connect to any and all servers that are listed in Setup for every file.

Here is my situation:

I am using 2 servers: one paid and one free. As a general rule, I want to only use the paid server for files that are not available on the free server.

I have a queue of 5 files, 3 of which are available on both servers, and 2 which are only available on the paid server.

Is it possible to set it up so that the 2 files download from my paid server, but the other 3 files download only from the free server?


It seems that the only way to do this is to wait for the 3 files to each start downloading (they will automatically download using both servers) and then manually disable the download thread connecting to the paid server. (the other 2 files will download (by default) from the paid server because that is the only server where those 2 files are available) As I don't like to baby-sit downloads, that's not a very appealing option.

For instance, Grabit allows assigning each file to a specific server before it starts downloading (though it does not allow multi-sourcing a file on several servers simultaneously as Alt.Binz does). Since Alt.Binz does not allow pre-setting file-server assignments, an easy solution might be to allow multiple instances.

[Hecks]

Why would that be an easier solution?  How would it work?  You start downloading, find out what's available on what server, stop your download, then open your second instance, start a new download ... I'm still failing to see how it's much different from pressing disconnect, choosing another server, pressing connect again.

In any case, this seems an awful lot of trouble for something that has a simple solution: get an unlmiited account on a good server, they're usually only a few dollars more anyway.

-Hecks

[Rdl]

As a temporary solution, I've added command line parametar '-mi' to run multiple instances.

So, run main instance as ussual. But if you want to run 2nd or 3rd or Nth run it with altbinz.exe -mi

I would strongly suggest keeping separate dirs.