Can I control internet use on my LAN/WiFi?

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cjmack

167 posts

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#40563 31-Aug-2009 15:10

Hi,

I have a LAN with 1 PC on it, and a WiFi network with 2 laptops and a few other devices on it.

Is it possible that I can regulate how much data each PC/device uses? I ask this as I am in a flat and I have a feeling that our data cap is going to go through the roof this month. It's over half gone only 5 days into the billing period.

The router I have just started using is a Thomson Speedtouch ST585, Software release 6.2.29.2

Is there a way to manage data and allocate it from the router managment page, or do I need to setup a server? I would prefer not to run a PC 24/7, but I will if I have to. I have another Thomson Router available if needed, but it is has a single RJ45 jack, and no WiFi. (Possibly use 2nd router to connect to web, run through a server, to 1st router (with DHCP and ADSL off) out to the network).

Any help would be great.

Thanks,

Sam.

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#251969 31-Aug-2009 15:23

You could run a pc as a router e.g

single pc modem to your pc to your wifi router, and have it only allow a certain amount of data, to each mac address.

My mind has gone blank of what the software is called though sorry.

cjmack

167 posts

Master Geek

#251970 31-Aug-2009 15:28

Ok, thanks. What kind of specs and OS would I need on that PC? I want it as small and as quiet as possible as it will be in the lounge. I used to run smoothwall linux I think it was at my parents place for a PPPoE connection on fibre, so I have a tiny bit of experience in that respect.

garvani

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#251973 31-Aug-2009 15:42

Sorry dont think you will get a hardware solution without spending a fortune on a decent router.

I setup pfsense for this purpose at a flat of mine a while ago, on a old dog of a pc, it worked quite well once i got my head around setting it up and is open source so free.. I then did the same thing at a hostel i was living at but with a windows program called kerio winroute which is not free but was very easy to configure and worked extremely well. Both programs let you do a lot more than just monitor/cap bandwidth. I could help you out a bit with winroute but pfsense is pushing the memory a bit and would have changed since then, but there help and knowledge base was very useful.

cjmack

167 posts

Master Geek

#251980 31-Aug-2009 16:10

I had a look at both programs. pfsense does look a little tricky, however it may just work. Also it has minimal hardware requirements. winroute looks awesome, but at USD$330 I think it's quite out of my price range.

I will keep looking and see if I find something suitable. I also have to find an old PC to run it on, but that shouldn't be too hard.

Thanks for the help, it's great!

Nimma

98 posts

Master Geek

#251988 31-Aug-2009 16:48

Hi there

If it helps I'm using an Asus WL-520GU 802.11G wireless router with custom tomato firmware. This give me great control over Quality of Service (QOS) which sounds like what you're after. Basically I assign the MAC address of each user a group (high, medium, low) and then each group a bandwidth.

I have about 10 PCs attached to our router and have managed the data cap fine with this. If you get into it you can assign ax bandwidth to voip/gaming ports etc and slow torrents down. Tomato and DD-wrt are common custom firmwares for routers that can be loaded onto several routers and have great control albeit with a little reading. The best thing is you don't need a PC constantly on. Google tomato firmware, check out their list of supported routers and then check out the cheapest on pricespy.

Good luck!

Ragnor

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#251992 31-Aug-2009 16:56

I see an old PC running a customised Linux or BSD OS has already been mentioned, Smoothwall might be easier than Pfsense for you.

Another option if you don't want a whole PC running 24x7 is to get a router that can run open source firmware like a Linksys WRT54GL

I use one of these at home running Tomato firmware in a setup like this myself, the Tomato firmware can give you a bunch of usuge graphs and QoS options.

If those kind of options sound to complex for you there's Web Gauge it's basically $155 NZD for the router and $5 per month for the online tools (check the site for how it works).

cjmack

167 posts

Master Geek

#252017 31-Aug-2009 18:09

Hi,

I had a look through the forums at smoothwall. As far as I can tell there is no mod/plugin for bandwith metering etc at present.

I had a look at Asus and Linksys routers. I was unable to find the compatible models of Asus router on pricespy, and the Linksys are unfortunately currently out of my price range.

In the meantime, do you think it would be possible to put bandwith metre software on each PC? It will be harder to keep a track of, but at least it will give me a rough idea of who is stealing all of our data!!

Quic Broadband

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Nimma

98 posts

Master Geek

#252053 31-Aug-2009 20:55

http://www.pricespy.co.nz/search.php?q=520gu&sc=Network_18

http://www.pricespy.co.nz/search.php?q=wrt54gl&all=0&sc=Network_18

I'm using some customised tomato firmware that actually lets me use the Wl-520GU with USB hard drive support.

richms

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#252269 1-Sep-2009 15:37

If you dont want to roll your own, webgauge.co.nz have done it already.

Richard rich.ms

cjmack

167 posts

Master Geek

#252277 1-Sep-2009 15:52

Thanks Nimma, I couldn't find the Asus on pricespy, so I'm not sure what I was clicking on, those links worked fine...

I had a look at webguage, and it's going to cost nearly double to setup than an Asus router, and there is an ongoing fee.

I think I will wait till payday next month and go out and grab an Asus unit. (Cheaper and better looking than the Linksys IMO)

Thanks for your help! If I have trouble with tomato, I'll pop back and say hello.

Ragnor

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#252293 1-Sep-2009 16:39

cjmack: Hi,

In the meantime, do you think it would be possible to put bandwith metre software on each PC? It will be harder to keep a track of, but at least it will give me a rough idea of who is stealing all of our data!!

Yes, this one is good
http://www.softperfect.com/products/networx/

.. but whoever is using heaps of data could just uninstall the application or close it.

boby55

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#252299 1-Sep-2009 16:55

Ragnor:
cjmack: Hi,

In the meantime, do you think it would be possible to put bandwith metre software on each PC? It will be harder to keep a track of, but at least it will give me a rough idea of who is stealing all of our data!!

Yes, this one is good
http://www.softperfect.com/products/networx/

.. but whoever it using heaps of data could just uninstall the application or close it.

then you would still know who it is if they uninstalled it, as every1 else would have not much data and one person wouldn't have it installed :D

richms

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#252402 1-Sep-2009 21:04

well you can either pay more for that one thats been customized and pay the $5 a month which really is nothing, or try to roll your own on the same platform which is the asus wl520gu - and learn more then you ever cared to about cross compilation and stuff on linux.

Richard rich.ms

cjmack

167 posts

Master Geek

#252723 2-Sep-2009 20:18

Just a quick question, I can't quite establish with the Asus 520GU, if it is an ADSL router, or just a broadband router? Will I need an ADSL modem as well, or is it a standalone unit?

Ragnor

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#252737 2-Sep-2009 20:56

It's a wireless router and 4 port switch, so you will need a separate adsl modem preferably one that supports ppoa half bridge or ppoa to ppoe bridging.

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