Broadband routers with built in computer by computer internet usage logging

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foremannz

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#79276 15-Mar-2011 20:14

I know this has probably been asked time and time again, but has anyone made a new router that records internet usage, even if it sends reports to another computer. So many of my customers and friends want to log their internet traffic, but the hassle of setting up a firewall appliance (I have tried smoothwall and pfsense) is just cumbersome and flakey. I also know that you can get firmware for some older routers, but I am looking for an out of the box solution, and am even considering Zenbu for alot of my users!!!

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freitasm

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#448680 15-Mar-2011 20:23

A post from just two days ago, with lots of links: http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=49&topicid=79148

(Search is your friend around here).

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sbiddle

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#448683 15-Mar-2011 20:27

There are many, many ways to accomplish this.

If you want a simple, off the shelf solution then http://www.webgauge.co.nz/ is probably your best option.

If you're got time to set up your own system than a Miktorik router will do a billiant job, and virtually all of 3rd party router firmware releases will also do this.

pfsence and smoothwall are complete overkill.

cyril7

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#448707 15-Mar-2011 21:52

Even less than a whole Mikrotick router solution a Mikrotick switch running switchos will let you both control port throughput and report traffic level.

Cyril

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#448720 15-Mar-2011 22:36

I ran a Mikrotik router for 8 years, and have just switched to Gargoyle solely so that I could monitor usage! I could not figure out any way to log data usage on a Mikrotik router without software running on a PC 24/7 and even then it was not very useful.

cyril7

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#448751 16-Mar-2011 07:44

Both switchOS has a web interface with port counters that just keep rolling,

Here is an image from a routerOS session I just started (hence small numbers),

Cyril

cyril7

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#448756 16-Mar-2011 08:25

And here is a swos log, as you can see it provides both packet and byte count per port.

Cyril

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sbiddle

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#448765 16-Mar-2011 08:45

Skolink: I ran a Mikrotik router for 8 years, and have just switched to Gargoyle solely so that I could monitor usage! I could not figure out any way to log data usage on a Mikrotik router without software running on a PC 24/7 and even then it was not very useful.

There are numerous ways, ranging from simple to complex. The easiest is to simply configure a hotspot with invididual logins for each user. You can then track usage of each login.

jjnz1

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#448776 16-Mar-2011 08:56

Or you can use the Mangle function of the Mikrotik firewall, and set up one rule per computer, this will collect the needed stats but will not display it in a pretty graph. -Just numbers.

jjnz1

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#448778 16-Mar-2011 08:58

@cyril7, have you got winbox to work correctly in windows 7?

cyril7: Both switchOS has a web interface with port counters that just keep rolling,

Here is an image from a routerOS session I just started (hence small numbers),

Cyril

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#448807 16-Mar-2011 10:15

jjnz1: @cyril7, have you got winbox to work correctly in windows 7?

I use it under Windows 7 every day and have never had any issues. What version are you using?

jjnz1

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#448813 16-Mar-2011 10:26

winbox 2.2.18 connecting to v5.0rc10 (rb600a).

It connects fine, but the buttons like IP, IPv6, and System etc which are suppose to expand do not.
Other buttons such as interfaces, wireless etc work fine.

Anyway, I just use it through XP mode (VM).

I haven't explored what it could be yet, as XP mode is easier but if you have any ideas of the top of your head....