Throttleing (?) internet usage

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Phexx

415 posts

Ultimate Geek

#96979 8-Feb-2012 16:16

Hi there, my sister is getting a laptop very soon and I need to manage how much internet data she uses on it. Since I am the one who monitors the usage, I have to find a way to stop her using to much.

I have tried the verbal treatment, but long story short, it hasn't worked. So, are there any programs I can use, either on her computer, or on something else, to manage her usage.

Thanks

gehenna

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#578765 8-Feb-2012 16:29

what kind of router do you have?

jaymz

1133 posts

Uber Geek

#578767 8-Feb-2012 16:34

+1 for doing something with your router.

Installing something on her laptop will only encourage her to uninstall it to get around the issue. Best thing is to get a device that sits in the way.

A free system that a few people i know have used is called Untangle, It is fairly basic, but requires its own hardware to run (spare PC)

Failing that, upgrading the router/firewall to one that allows traffic monitoring and managing.

Other option is to get her own line into the house, but that is expensive.

johnr

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#578792 8-Feb-2012 17:11

I have seen a few threads on Geekzone on this very subject sorry can't link

Phexx

415 posts

Ultimate Geek

#578797 8-Feb-2012 17:15

The model is F5D8236-4 v3000. I do have a spare computer, my old laptop, but it would be a pain to have it on all the time.

I would be interested in installing something to my router or something like that.

raytaylor

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#578834 8-Feb-2012 17:49

You need a compatible router and to know about upgrading firmware on a router.

Options
1) the new netgear's have built in data accounting and monitoring. I bought a few from DSE for $89ea at the weekend that i am pretty sure had it built in.

2) Load on gargoyle firmware onto your new router. There was a few posts recently on how to do this. You need a compatible router.

3) Failing that, dd-wrt has port based throttling. Eg. you can limit an ethernet port on the router to a certain speed. eg. 256k

4) Spare PC (not a laptop) with two linux compatible network cards and the untangle software.

Ray Taylor

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Phexx

415 posts

Ultimate Geek

#578885 8-Feb-2012 19:14

OK, flash the router is really my only option.

Is there a program that I can use to simply monitor the data usage. Maybe install it one one machine, or maybe the router.

raytaylor

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#579024 8-Feb-2012 23:52

The problem is that the data needs to flow through the machine to be counted. One machine wont know what any other machines are doing because on a switched network it cant tell whats happening. The router sends the data out the wifi or ethernet port to the machine that requested it, not to every machine.

So you need to have a router with either bandwidth accounting built in like the netgears i suggested, or see if you can get a router (if your current one doesnt) and load on gargoyle.

If both of those options wont work for you then yes you need to load the untangle firewall system onto a spare computer with two network cards in it - untangle i believe has accounting built in but i have never tried it myself. On the WAN side of the untangle box you have your router / internet connection, and on the lan side you have your network switch and a wireless access point or a router acting as a wireless access point which connects to your computers.

I really recomend you look for an off-the-shelf router that will do the bandwidth accounting for you.

Have a look for the recent posts on gargoyle if you feel you want to play with firmware upgrades. But you will probably need to buy a compatible router.

Ray Taylor

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Ragnor

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#579038 9-Feb-2012 00:29

Phexx: The model is F5D8236-4 v3000. I do have a spare computer, my old laptop, but it would be a pain to have it on all the time.

I would be interested in installing something to my router or something like that.

Management as in shaping or blocking her when she's used up her fair share nope... you need a router capable of third party firmware or pc gateway running something like pfsense.

You could just measure her usage and tell her she has to pay for the proportion of the bill she uses.

If the router supports the SNMP protocol you could enable that then use the free edition of PRTG to monitor usage.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simple_Network_Management_Protocol
http://www.paessler.com/prtg

Phexx

415 posts

Ultimate Geek

#579063 9-Feb-2012 06:56

Thanks guys, I have a better understanding of what my options are now. I appreciate your help and will let you know if anything comes uP!

timbosan

2159 posts

Uber Geek

#579071 9-Feb-2012 07:38

raytaylor: You need a compatible router and to know about upgrading firmware on a router.

Options
1) the new netgear's have built in data accounting and monitoring. I bought a few from DSE for $89ea at the weekend that i am pretty sure had it built in.

2) Load on gargoyle firmware onto your new router. There was a few posts recently on how to do this. You need a compatible router.

3) Failing that, dd-wrt has port based throttling. Eg. you can limit an ethernet port on the router to a certain speed. eg. 256k

4) Spare PC (not a laptop) with two linux compatible network cards and the untangle software.

+1 for Untangle - I have been using it for over 4 years now. I get daily, weekly and monthly reports which break down to user (I have static IP's on my LAN and map these to users/devices). I will check on the ability to limit based on limits.

BTW - Untangle will run on a P4 - I had one running it for over a year, and it was never a limitation. But if you do go down this road, make sure to get a decent network card such as Intel.

webwat

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#579302 9-Feb-2012 14:54

Ragnor:
You could just measure her usage and tell her she has to pay for the proportion of the bill she uses.

If the router supports the SNMP protocol you could enable that then use the free edition of PRTG to monitor usage.

I think thats the only option that doesn't encourage heavy users to use right up to their limit and then start complaining and blaming others. Sharing the payment means taking responsibility for viruses and everything too, and gives you a clear point when she either pays up or pays for her own connection.

Time to find a new industry!