Best way to monitor bandwidth usage?

bazaarboy

bazaarboy

bazaarboy

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we have 4G broadband with a limited data allowance, though you can buy more gigs when needed

Recently our data usage has gone up and I'd like to monitor and pinpoint which device(s) are responsible

We have 4 pcs, 3 phones, tablets and multiple connected devices like sonos, home automation hubs etc, so it's difficult to be sure who or what is siphoning the data

Can anyone recommend an app / windows program to help break down usage??
Thanks!
 
The problem you have is that if you need to identify the culprit then you need to do one of two things. Either:

1. Find something that can monitor it on a device all other devices go through to access the internet. In practice that normally means your router.
2. Install something on each device and leave it for a while and then check each one. While you can find things for PCs and probably phones and tablets, I doubt you'll be able to for all other devices.

The first point I do with pfSense but that's likely overkill for you. There may be a way to route all traffic through one of your PCs or something cheap like a Raspberry Pi but that's not something I know about. Someone else may be along who has done something.

Also check if there's an option to monitor in your existing router or custom firmware for your existing router that can do it.
 
If you are using it Windows 10 is a bit of a pain to manage bandwidth wise - last month assorted Windows 10 devices in our household used approx. 11GB just on Windows update related stuff.

Unless you use a router with such functionality built in you are going to have to somehow pass all traffic through one system that can monitor it like above.
 
You will struggle to install a program to monitor network wide usage.

Really you want something between your network and your gateway so will mean an additional piece of kit.
 
The higher data usage has coincided with a new media server, which runs 24-7 and yes, it's win10.

I was wondering if I can monitor the data flow through my draytek router, which in itself has limited options for global continuous monitoring
 
Start simple, network utilisation has increased since adding the new media pc so likely that is the cause install some monitoring software on that box or if you must monitor everything get a new router the latest by hub has decent device level monitoring.
 
Depending on the type of media server things like posters, cover art etc. can add up to a few GB of downloads if you have a large library. Either way monitor at a router level rather than a device level.
 
bazaarboy said:
The higher data usage has coincided with a new media server, which runs 24-7 and yes, it's win10.

I was wondering if I can monitor the data flow through my draytek router, which in itself has limited options for global continuous monitoring
Click to expand...

If the draytec supports snmp then you could setup some remote monitoring on the ports, (solarwinds bandwidth monitor is easy to setup but also very limited)

the best way would be to setup a gateway device/vm to site between your devices and router, ie pfsense that would/could give you a full insight to all the data going over the connection!
 
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