Method and apparatus for improving bandwidth efficiency in a computer network

A method for operating a server group to improve bandwidth efficiency in a computer network, wherein the server group is operable to transmit files between the server group and destinations on the computer network through a communication link having a finite bandwidth, the method comprising:

• monitoring bandwidth usage of a communication link for connecting a server group to a wide area network, using software operably associated with the communication link;
• distributing a rule set to individual servers of the server group, wherein the rule set defines rules for limiting serving of data from the individual servers depending on file type and a current state of the bandwidth usage;
• characterizing files stored in operable association with the individual servers according to type, using software operating on the individual servers;
• informing the individual servers of the current state of the bandwidth usage as monitored by the software operably associated with the communication link;
• and
• serving the files from the individual servers to the wide area network via the communication link in compliance with the rule set, so as to limit serving of specified file types from the servers during periods when the bandwidth usage exceeds a threshold amount relative to a finite bandwidth of the communication link.