Monitoring Network Traffic (Downloads)

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Colinspocket

30 posts

Geek

# 100499 12-Apr-2012 14:10

Hi Geekzone

I've spent a long time researching this but still haven't found a solution yet so I'm hoping someone here might know how to help.

Here at our flat we regularly go well over our internet cap and sometimes we can't even account for it. I want to know if there's any way I can monitor all the traffic coming into our network so I can see who exactly is using the data on a day-to-day basis.

I'm not trying to creep on my flatmates or anything, I just need to know where the volume of the data is going. I'm almost sure most of it will be to myself to be honest but we're just sick of going over our cap and not knowing how we've done it.

I understand the complications of how this works considering we're all on laptops (and other mobile/game devices), but I'm hoping that there is a way to do this. We're with Orcon and have their genius router.

Thanks in advance for all replies!

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634 posts

Ultimate Geek

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# 608252 12-Apr-2012 14:16

A router capable of running Gargoyle firmware seems to be a good solution. See http://www.geekzone.co.nz/tonyhughes/7524

CYaBro

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# 608253 12-Apr-2012 14:20

One of the new D-Link Cloud routers perhaps?

tdgeek

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# 608255 12-Apr-2012 14:24

Networx is a free software option you can try

lucky015

676 posts

Ultimate Geek

# 608335 12-Apr-2012 16:23

No matter how you work it Orcon's Genius router is going to make it a headache and being on an uncapped (Overage charged plan) in a flatting situation is probably a very bad idea.

The best solution would probably to do what I did myself recently and sign up on an Unlimited plan such as the ones from Slingshot. Also along with that a decent Modem/Router is generally a good idea, I'd recommend a TP-Link TD-W8960N (Click Here).

http://www.slingshot.co.nz/bundles
(Set address for a potential $10 a month discount)

shrub

511 posts

Ultimate Geek

# 608373 12-Apr-2012 17:39

pfsense or similar worked when i was flatting but u need a modem that can bridge.

Colinspocket

30 posts

Geek

# 608769 13-Apr-2012 14:04

Thanks for all the ideas everyone.

It seems like this is unachieveable without either A: running specialised software on the router or B: installing something like Networx on every comp in the house (Which won't account for mobile/game devices

) which the flatties won't be too happy about either!

Wish routers came with this kind of stuff already, I just want to see where the data is going on an IP adress basis. Maybe I'm missing something here.

Anyways thanks for all your suggestions!

sbiddle

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Biddle Corp

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# 608886 13-Apr-2012 17:58

A Mikrotik RB750. No other solution will come close.

Just configure it as a transparent bridge..

Colinspocket

30 posts

Geek

# 609263 14-Apr-2012 13:48

Unfortunately while I'd love to buy a fancy new router I'm not really in the market for one at the moment so would like to just have a software solution, but as far as I've seen the specialised firmware either runs on certain routers only and there's no other option to monitor this remotely from a PC on the network

sbiddle

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Biddle Corp

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# 609318 14-Apr-2012 16:15

Colinspocket: Unfortunately while I'd love to buy a fancy new router I'm not really in the market for one at the moment so would like to just have a software solution, but as far as I've seen the specialised firmware either runs on certain routers only and there's no other option to monitor this remotely from a PC on the network

That's why I mentioned the RB750.

It's cheap as chips and nothing at all comes close capability wise for the price. The 3rd party WRT based firmware options are all pretty average compared to RouterOS which is a million times more powerful. You can also view everything remotely from a PC.

michaelmurfy

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# 609333 14-Apr-2012 16:46

Maybe it's about time we release TrafficBadger...

Runs on a PC with 2x NICS, people dial through PPPoE, a custom project from a few of us geeks at our flat. Also does Youtube caching, monitors b/w usage per user, allows guests to purchase data etc.

nickb800

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# 609342 14-Apr-2012 17:06

michaelmurfy: Maybe it's about time we release TrafficBadger...

Runs on a PC with 2x NICS, people dial through PPPoE, a custom project from a few of us geeks at our flat. Also does Youtube caching, monitors b/w usage per user, allows guests to purchase data etc.

Looks mint, id be interested in it!

Colinspocket

30 posts

Geek

# 609344 14-Apr-2012 17:15

nickb800:
michaelmurfy: Maybe it's about time we release TrafficBadger...

Runs on a PC with 2x NICS, people dial through PPPoE, a custom project from a few of us geeks at our flat. Also does Youtube caching, monitors b/w usage per user, allows guests to purchase data etc.

Looks mint, id be interested in it!

Me too!

Where does the PC sit? after the router?

Looks great. But once again I guess highlights the lack of ability to monitor this stuff without custom firmware/hardware =(

bigal_nz

635 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

# 609347 14-Apr-2012 17:21

I have used Gargoyle in the past.

Works a treat and users can point their browser to the router address to see useage.

When they hit the cap they can either be throttled or cut off all together.

eXDee

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# 609365 14-Apr-2012 18:13

michaelmurfy: Maybe it's about time we release TrafficBadger...

Runs on a PC with 2x NICS, people dial through PPPoE, a custom project from a few of us geeks at our flat. Also does Youtube caching, monitors b/w usage per user, allows guests to purchase data etc.

Can you MAC authenticate instead of using PPPoE?

michaelmurfy

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# 609426 14-Apr-2012 22:11

eXDee:
Can you MAC authenticate instead of using PPPoE?

There is a WPA Enterprise AP, of which is easier than using PPPoE.

Colinspocket:

Me too!

Where does the PC sit? after the router?

Looks great. But once again I guess highlights the lack of ability to monitor this stuff without custom firmware/hardware =(

Modem --> TB --> Network, it is the router.

TB is a bit off from getting released, since it's heavily customised to work in with Snap + our flat in general (it's our server) - might be a small wait ;) - Sorry about that tease :P

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