How2 check Data Transfer Usage, mystery usage, and usage shown in VMC

[TaiRoss]

Hi,

i am using a usb EDGE/GPRS modem off my laptop with a Vodacom simcard in the modem.

How do I check my available airtime on my card? Currently I have to place the card in my cellphone and dial for the available airtime?

I dont want to start the pre-paid databundle thing here again but i am also waiting patiently for that launch. (better rates!!)


http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/images/smilies/smile.gif


Sorry, I found the place at http://www.vodacom4me.co.za/vodacom4me-personal/

 

[Speedster]

Usage metering

I'm running a Vodacom 3G/HSDPA connection on the server which the other computers in my office simply use as their internet gateway. Our account is a bit high at present (no thanks to Vodacom's HUGE out-of-bundle) rates, and I'd like to monitor internet usage on each computer? Anyone know of a nice app I can use for this?

I have NetMeter and I'll give that a go, but if anyone knows of something beter I'd appreciate it.

 

[Speedster]

Nope, NetMeter is not going to work. It monitors all activity on my LAN. Any ideas to isolate internet (web & mail) usage?

 

[rehd]

Best bet is to check with vodacoms call centre on the data bundle or register the cell number on vodacom4me and then check your balances. Also the usage meter on the dashboard is out by at least 40 %..

hic

 

[Speedster]

Thanks rehd - will do that, but I'd like to monitor each user individually as well.

 

[ant1b0dy]

Thanks rehd - will do that, but I'd like to monitor each user individually as well.

You could investigate installing some sort of proxy server software that supports user monitoring on your main 'internet' PC and force everyone to connect to the net via this proxy.

 

[rehd]

hhhmm the I am not sure of any app that can do that however PM me and i will send you a little app i picked up im the dungenus of time some where , which I havent tested, so maybe u can give it a bash...

 

[graviti]

If you have a spare box lying around, I'd suggest installing linux as a router. Put this in line with the gateway, and make that the gateway for everyone else. Then you can use the firewall to log activity. You can also restrict certain protocols, such as P2P. It works really nicely in this regard. will probably require some really complex routing on both the Linux box and the server if the server is being used for more than just file sharing. Complex, but not necessarily difficult to do

 

[Speedster]

Was hoping there would be a simple solution...

 

[vodacom3g]

I would agree with Ant1b0dy,

Using a proxy with user tracking will give you this as well as other advantages, such as caching.

For example, you might have a situation where all your users download the same virus definition file from the web and you end up paying multiple times for the same file.

Spending some time setting up an Office Communication Server can help a lot to enhance security and bring costs down.

Linux is popular for this as all the modules are available and you can run it on an older PC. But then you need the Linux skills of course.

 

[Speedster]

Help would be nice

Ok - now you guys have me really interested. Only problem is my Linux skills need serious devlopment - actually they are non existent. I'm doing this IT thing at our office and coping pretty well I reckon, but this is a bit tight. But, being an economist by training, I understand the benefits of installing and running through a proxy would be great (especially the caching thing).

The problem is how?? Are there any good sites that will help me set something like this up? Or any forumites with some tips?

 

[vodacom3g]

I assume there will be Windows equivalent packages, but you'll obviously have to buy them.

Otherwise, see if you can find a Linux guy in your area (enough of them on this forum!) and see if you can bribe one of them into helping you. They're notoriously cheap D) , so a few beers should do....

 

[Speedster]

thanks v3g - I'll see if I can make a plan.

 

[ArminM]

You could look into squid for win32 (http://squid.acmeconsulting.it/index.html) and create your buckets per user there. It'll even allow for rate shaping to a degree.

 

[antonbijl]

On Windows, I can recommend ISA server. I haven't used it much to monitor individual web traffic, but I know it can definitely do this (and much more). It's also easy to use and provides some excellent reporting/stats.

Comes at a price though, but AFAIK is included in the "Microsoft Action Pack" subscription, which is actually quite reasonable methinks for small businesses. I'm not sure about availability of this to "general public" etc. but you should be able to find that somewhere on MS's site. If I remember correctly it's about R3000 per year and also includes 10 Office licenses, 10 desktop OS licenses, 1 Server OS license etc. etc.

It depends of course on how this fits in with your overall IT strategy, but if most of your users are on MS anyway (Windows/Office et al) then I think it's worth a look.

OMG, I can't believe I'm posting this.

 

[Mams]

Was hoping there would be a simple solution...

Download Netpersec.its a free application and allows u to choose what u want monitor...just dial up networking or a specific adaptor..should do ur job

 

[Diplos]

Also the usage meter on the dashboard is out by at least 40 %

Isn't it a bit (insert expletive) hopeless of Vodacom to release software which is so far off the mark. I can guarantee that many users will accept this meter as gospel.

It would be better not to have any meter at all than one that gives such a false reading - why not send an SMS at every 100MB of usage - surely Vodacom is not too cheap to do that?

 

[Speedster]

Good idea Diplos. Think that could work pretty decently

 

[rehd]

When the first 3G card was made avaiable the meter was out by about trhat amount. Vodacom didn tnot put any sort of advertising on the package to inform customers about. It was brought to their attention , and subsequently I have seem little "post-it" notes on the packaging advising that the meter usage is incorrect.

You can always test it by seeing what you use in the month and then call your SP and actually see what you have used. On a 1GB package you will exceed ti by about 300-450 MB.. Or reach a 1GB when it shows 600-700MB..

hic

 

[Diplos]

I guess you could also compare it to the traffic meter shown by Windows for the 3G card on a per-session basis and then see how they tally.