Bandwidth limiting software

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flash99

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I am on a 256 package and exceed the limit most of the time. I got to thinking about limiting it and tried a product to throttle the bandwidth. I had endless problems with my internet access using it and have uninstalled it.

I run XP Pro with Norton Internet Security. Can anyone suggest something I can use at home to throttle specific applications/processes that are running. I need something that works for home use with XP and NIS of course.

Whilst on the subject, how do I get to see my usage online from Sentech? I can not see a link on their site.

Thanks
 
ic said:
If you use your MyWi in a fixed location, IPCop will do the trick [AFAIK you will need a USB<-->ethernet cable] with the Addons Server and then via the Addons Server, the Traffic Control & Report addon installed.

Traffic Control & Report allows you to set traffic limits for all PCs [IP/mac] that use the IPCop box to access the net [i.e. via your MyWi modem], you can also use IPCop's builtin Traffic Shaping...
Click to expand...
Netlimiter is easier, simpler and requires less hardware. it will be cheaper as well!! :)
 
The way I see it, if you're using a single workstation, then having an extra PC just for firewall purposes is quite unneccessary, and NetLimiter will be the way to go.

But should you require to share the same connection, then you'll need to look at having an extra box for firewall/internet sharing capabilities.

Windows' Internet Connection Sharing can also be used, but bear in mind that should you need to reboot your Windows PC (which is sharing the Internet connection with others) then the others will also lose their Internet connection. Plus it is not so flexible as having either a Smoothwall, IPCop, or m0n0wall installation.

Just my 0.05c...

Regards
 
Have to agree with the above, Netlimiter works well for controlling upload/download speeds per application but doesn't have a function to control the total amount of bandwidth used (although you can see the overall daily/monthly/yearly usage). Very useful for torrent leechers (although with Sentech's 5K/s upload speed most leechers will drop you like a warm turd).
 
Thanks for the replies.

Sorry I ommited to mention my configuration. I have a PC to which the modem is connected via USB. This PC has internet connection sharing activated and I have a further 2 PCs connected via a switch that comletes my LAN. All PCs are using XP pro and Norton Internet Security.

I do not particularly want to set up a Linux PC for firewalling as I do run some applications that are only available in windows format on the PC connected to the modem.

I tried netlimiter beta 2 and found that I had problems connecting to the internet from the other 2 Pcs as Netlimiter seem to fiddle with something in NIS - I had to disable NIS to get a connection. I had the Netlimiter Firewall disabled. The other thing that I noticed was that although I limited some of the application, they would run at much higher speeds than the limits. IE suddenly would not connect to some sites when I uninstalled Netlimiter (I wonder what threat it thought visiting DSTV would cause?). It took me 4 days to sort out the IE problem (I even tried uninstalling NIS) - turned out to be some obscure setting in IE that I read about in about the hundredth site I visited. Well I don't proclaim to be an expert in IE problem solving but this has never happened to me before.

I guess I am not that partial to Netlimiter (maybe it does not suit my setup) but I would like to hear your experiences with it - I just can not afford to battle for a week to be able to access my work mail from home.

I have had a quick look at the sites for the other products mentioned but they all seem to be Linux based and do not seem to list their features like commercial sites

Thanks guys
 
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If you want to look at the modifications (and capabilities) for Smoothwall, have a shufti here for a full listing. There are more functionality than you can shake a memory stick at. Other sites also do list their capabilities, but you'll have to ask around on those forums concerned where the list is.

I also tried NetLimiter, and could not get it to work, so I ditched it. (My motto is if it does not work out of the box, then ditch it). My preferred setup is Smoothwall as the firewall/router and I'm willing to sacrifice a PC for this setup - this also gives me peace of mind and more control over what comes in and goes out on my system.

USB modems and Linux systems may or may not work properly together, your mileage may vary on this...
 
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