I need a way to monitor.

Priapus · 6 Nov 2007 at 07:22

Hi Guys,

I'm looking for a piece of software that will run on a machine and report back to a main/server machine of the amount of bandwidth the user is/has used on a machine.

All on a network and the software can be installed on client machine and server machine, as long as it works, I don't care. I don't need the websites. Just need an amount of downloaded and if possible what was downloaded, IE, music/movies ECT. As I need to stop it from happening. At the moment I have very little control over this, and need to tighten this control over the machines. I already have Internet Cafe software, however it won't tell me what was download nor will it tell me how much.

Any help, would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks,
Robert.

Skyboat · 6 Nov 2007 at 12:11

Couldn't you monitor this through the router on the network?

mynsa · 6 Nov 2007 at 13:02

install a proxy, route all traffic through that and use that to monitor network usage?

Priapus · 6 Nov 2007 at 19:42

Well, I'm not really good with sort of stuff. So, for give me with the next line. How do I do that?

zetec452 · 6 Nov 2007 at 19:48

A proxy is the only way forward really. You have a couple of options IMO. Something like Microsoft’s ISA proxy or a Linux proxy. I've used the corporate editions of smoothwall that work very well.

Priapus · 7 Nov 2007 at 06:10

Hi Jon,

Would it be possible for you to maybe give me some more info on how I go about setting this us?

Many thanks.
Robert

mynsa · 7 Nov 2007 at 08:52

What kind of info do you need?

Do you want me to start from the very beginning, any particular areas you want me to focus on?

Have you done this before?

Priapus · 7 Nov 2007 at 15:41

Hi.

No, I have never done this before. And I my knowlage is very limited when it comes to networking. So, I would like to start from scratch.
Very sorry, guys.

zetec452 · 7 Nov 2007 at 19:01

I'd have a play with something like m0n0wall. http://m0n0.ch/wall/

It has traffic shaping features and bandwidth calculations. Basically everything would go via the m0n0wall to the internet.

Another product to take a look at would be http://www.clarkconnect.com/.

Have a play with them read the documentation and I'm sure you will be on your way.

Priapus · 14 Nov 2007 at 14:29

Having a look at those two, doesn't look like it gives me what I want to see. For example, I need/want to see what PC 6 has used for the time period that the use has been on for. Then when he goes off, reset the counter for the next user. Also would like to see what they are downloading....if possible but not 100% important.

Uhtred · 14 Nov 2007 at 16:49

Are you willing to spend money on this?

Priapus · 14 Nov 2007 at 18:52

Depends how much and how efective the product would be, so yes. As it's costing the business a lot.

Uhtred · 14 Nov 2007 at 18:58

then maybe consider microsoft ISA and you could add something like websense to monitor, report and block sites and services

zetec452 · 14 Nov 2007 at 19:04

Ice On Fire said:
Having a look at those two, doesn't look like it gives me what I want to see. For example, I need/want to see what PC 6 has used for the time period that the use has been on for. Then when he goes off, reset the counter for the next user. Also would like to see what they are downloading....if possible but not 100% important.

Why do you need to know exactly what the user is doing? Would your customer want you to know exactly what they were doing?

Unless you are charged heavily for bandwidth surely you just need to limit the time on machines and block any nasty content?

Priapus · 16 Nov 2007 at 06:07

JonRohan said:
Why do you need to know exactly what the user is doing? Would your customer want you to know exactly what they were doing?

Unless you are charged heavily for bandwidth surely you just need to limit the time on machines and block any nasty content?

Well I don't want them downloading music/movies ect. They're in a public place, so should be that way. Even if I could just see how much they downloaded and limit them to a set amount??

zetec452 · 16 Nov 2007 at 08:22

Personally, I would write some terms and conditions stating that any illegal downloading will be reported to the police and that the networking is monitored (even if it isn’t). This way you cover your butt and users have no excuse.

How can you tell if content is genuine or not? It’s a very difficult to stop without hindering other services.

I would only filter stuff like porn, adware and viruses.

Priapus · 16 Nov 2007 at 10:51

That's true. However most people seem to be oblivouse to any notices I put up. I even made a small progam the logs in every time a new user logs on, shows them the terms and cons. But they dont read it, just click accept and carry on.

Its not what they download I need to save my 10Gb bandwith and running 10GB across 13 pcs = no bandwith halfway through the month.

zetec452 · 16 Nov 2007 at 18:16

Arh right, so you are limited on bandwidth?

In that case why don't you blanket ban Videos and mp3 downloads?

Priapus · 17 Nov 2007 at 09:05

Oh that's just what I need. How would I go about that?

Thank you so much for your help, JonRohan. Really appericate it.

zetec452 · 17 Nov 2007 at 09:17

You can do this via a proxy such as smoothwall corporate guardian.

It is a very powerful piece of software in which you can ban content and such. You may be able to get an open source version. I think clark connect has a decent proxy / content filter bit but you also have to pay for it.