Q: small network with 8 computers connected to a Linksys BEFSR41 router with an 8-port hub. I am running Windows XP. Anyway network traffic and bandwidth usage monitoring internet through XP? If not what is a good easy to use app to do this? Any ideas?
thanks Drew
Best Answer: Doesn't make a difference the secure part of a network is the encryption key that the modem maintains on its network, has nothing to do with your linksys adapter which is just basically and antenna to pick up the signal. You CAN use other software besides Microsofts client manager (WZC) like linksys but you just need to know the type of encryption to enter because Microsoft figures that out on its own usually. As a default the 2wire modems are set to WEP passphrase (64x bit) and the password is the 10 digit number on the bottom of the modem in brackets.
If you are at all worried about the level of security you can always use an ethernet cord to connect, go to this site 192.168.1.254 (the modem) and click home network then wireless settings, under there there will be a drop down for security and you can raise it to WPA which is a much stronger security.
If I was in your shoes, I wouldn't really worry about it, WEP is usually fine to keep your average joe from eating up your bandwidth
Re:Originally posted by: guy
Hey drew how did you block Kazaa and Imesh? I have a Dlink 704p router and have been trying to do this but it has not been working.
Thanks.
Are you trying to block incoming requests or outgoing traffic to those P2P networks?
If you want to block incoming requests just turn off file sharing or forward the ports to an invalid address.
Re:Hey drew how did you block Kazaa and Imesh? I have a Dlink 704p router and have been trying to do this but it has not been working.
Thanks.
Re:Thanks guys. Really a good post. By far the most informative post I have ever gotten to a question at Anandtech. Before I read yalls posts I was trying to do something that is not even possible. Thanks for the help. For now I have a few ports blocked via the router setup to limit Imesh and kazaa and the such
Re:Since your network exsists on a hub this isn't as difficult as guy has made it sound.
What you should do is ask yourself exactly what you want to see. Bandwidth usage is kind of a difficult to get (IMHO). But if you want to see who's generating what packets then get Ethereal (http://www.ethereal.org/). You'll be able to see all packets off that hub from any computer connected to the hub.
Now if you REALLY want to see what's going on at any given moment in a nicer more human friendly form then get a Linux box and install IPTraf on it. That will blow your mind.
Re:In regular setting of a LAN the computers connect to the Internet through a switch or a Router. Thus under normal condition one computer can not control or supervise other computer since the traffic does not go through this computer.
There are few options to control Network, or shared Internet activities on other Network computers.
1. The best is to buy a Switch that is manageable by software residing on the server, all the traffic runs through this Switch and can be remotely controlled from the server.
Do not run to look for such a Switch, unless you are ready to spend big money ($1000). Entry-level hardware cannot do it.
2. A simpler level of control is to put Network managing software on the main computer, and client managing software on the rest of the Network computers.
If the other computers do not belong to you (like in a Dorm Network), people have to agree to install the client software on their computers. Take into consideration that any well-informed person can always disable this software.
I am not aware of freeware software that does this. However, there is few low cost shareware available for this purpose.
Example: PortBlockPro (http://www.redcatsoft.com)
Search the shareware sites for term like Port blocking, Network Bandwidth etc.
3. You can eliminate your current Routing system, and build a Linux Box. Linux software (free) has a capacity to Route, and control distribution to other computers by software setting.
Linux Box – is the term used to describe a dedicated computer, with to two NICs running Linux operating system, which is connected to a switch for Network distribution? Such a computer is performing similar function as the Cable/DSL Hardware Routers.
Example of such software: Free Software for Routing. (http:// http://www.freesco.info/freesco/freesco.html)e registered MAC has to be Cloned to the Router. [/b]
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