Network Monitoring Software guidance

gjarnos

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Feb 1, 2011
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I would really just like to be pointed in the right direction. I currently have a network setup with about 20 users using all different devices like Mac's, PC's, Phones with wifi, ps3's, and xbox 360's. The ISP is Verizon Fios with a download speed of roughly 20mb. I am using the verizon wireless router provided which was 4 ports along with a 16 port netgear switch.

My question: Is there program I can obtain that will monitor how much bandwidth each device is currently using? For example, the program will have a list of IP addresses on the network and each IP will display its current download/upload speed. I'm not sure what is out there that is similar. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
 
Hmmm... give Knowledge Front a try: www.knowledgefront.com.

I've been using them for 4 months now. If you have your devices organized properly, you will be able to do live monitoring by IP range.
 


The easiest way would be to have the router monitor everything, but the problem is most home routers don't have that ability. I think dd-wrt might be able to do it, but you need to right router to install it on.
http://www.dd-wrt.com
I don't know much about it but there is a program called ntop http://www.ntop.org for linux that does what you are looking for.
here is a how to some one did
http://forums.untangle.com/hacks/18559-how-monitor-traffic-ntop.html


But you have a lot of users you might consider getting a dedicated computer to be your router. To handle all of the traffic I have a computer running a linux OS called Untangled. It can't do live monitoring unless you put ntop on there. But it does have reports, you can look at 1 day later, (I think like at 1 or 2 AM it generates the reports of the day before and emails it to me. But you can download "app" on to it for what you want it do do, like there is a add blocking, virus protection, email and spyware, protection, You can throw in a captive portal make every one log in before the can use the internet, and it will keep track of them by users names as well as devices.
Here is a pic of what mine look like
reportsbandwith.JPG


But like I said before I can't see who is using bandwidth at the moment, Unless you put ntop on and I am not sure if the new version works with it and you need some know how in Linux to get that to work. I can see the total usage going in and out, but not who or what is using it. That is one thing I have been very disappointed in Untangle.
http://www.untangle.com/