UpNp Protocol should I disable? will VPN still work?

Ok I recently ran into buffer rate issues when using youtube.com or hulu.com it is very frustrating because I have a top of the line pc and Im paying for fast internet and I only get 2% of my buffer or download rate...Ive read that there can be excess SSDP Packets that I can shut off by disabling UPNP protocol...so heres the question.

What is UpNp exactly?
What does UpNp do?

also

What will it affect by disabling it?
Most importantly will my VPN still work?

Im running
Vista X64 Home premium
AMD X64 5000+ 2.60 GHz
4 gig Ram
Geforce 9500GT
Netopia 2200 Router
ADSL

-TKG

 

Did you try Google?

Disable it. If it breaks access, enable it.