download manager

(1) A function within a larger program that manages file transfers from a remote device to the user.

(2) A utility that replaces the native download function in a Web browser. Download managers offer a number of features, including the ability to resume a download after a connection fails. Links can be gathered during the day and scheduled to run automatically at night when there is less network congestion.

They Fool the Server
Some download managers initiate multiple connections to the same server, starting each transfer at a different location in the file and combining the pieces at the end. The greater the user's Internet bandwidth, the faster the download, because Web servers typically limit bandwidth to each user in order to let more users download simultaneously. For example, if the download manager creates eight connections, the Web server thinks it is transmitting to eight different users. However, organizations that have limited server resources sometimes attempt to detect download managers and refuse the additional connections.

Windows Example

Tonec's Internet Download Manager (IDM) creates multiple connections to the server and keeps the user informed along the way. Note the 16 connections and blue/white progress bar that show the file downloading in pieces. For more information, visit www.tonec.com.

Mac Example

Yazsoft's Speed Download keeps adding connections up to a maximum of 16 (the N.O.C. column) unless it determines the server is overloaded. Yazsoft closed its doors in 2014 but recommends an alternative downloader on its website (www.yazsoft.com).