Limiting usage

alkit

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 8, 2009
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Johannesburg
Hi,
I currently have 2 computers connected to my router, and 2 laptops connected via wireless.

1 of the computers is used by our graphic designer, but he abuses the internet usage. He does around 10GB per month, so I am constantly needing to top up bandwidth.

Most of his usage comes from internet explorer downloads and torrents.

Is there ANY way to limit his usage to say 3GB a month, and then limit him to browsing/email only after that?

Any help is appreciated!
 
Well have you tried asking him? Sounds like a work environment so just tell him everything is monitored and to stop abusing the internet. If that doesn't or hasn't worked check if your router has firewall options to block protocols, sites, ports etc, also you get sofware firewalls that allow you to password protect their settings which would put an end to it presuming it's a work laptop, not going to fly if it's his own laptop though. Or a formal warning might stop him.
 
lol, we've tried warning him. We have netlimiter, so we can monitor his usage and see exactly where he is going. The only problem is that he claims complete innocence and says he doesn't know how it happens.
The thing is- he does a good job, hes just got a downloading addiction.

So, I want to be reasonable and offer him 3GB per month (which I think is more than enough) but then limit him to only browsing/email from then on...
My router is very basic and does not have very advanced firewall functions. What software firewalls can you recommend?
Thanks for the help!
 
ok then, set up a proxy with remote port limiting, denies socket connections and filetype restrictions.

squid is your friend. just like google
 
ok then, set up a proxy with remote port limiting, denies socket connections and filetype restrictions.

squid is your friend. just like google

But I'm new to this kind of thing... I don't even know what squid is?!

Can you recommend any program that I can just use?
I heard IPCOP and Dansgaurdian are good, but does that mean that I have to dedicate a PC to do it??
 
The solution is very easy... change your router setting to Bridge mode (lets you connect to the internet via Adsl like you would connect with dial up). Give your developer his own 3GB account and let him log in via his pc with his account's credentials.. When his 3GB bandwidth is used he will need to either purchase bandwidth himself or use less. The only bad thing about this is all your other users will need to connect the same way with another account. Will this work for you?
 
EXCELLENT IDEA!

I set up an SMTP/POP3 proxy on my computer so that the graphic designer can have full email access, and then put both machines on bridge mode.

My graphic designer now has an openbrowse account with 10gb of LOCAL bandwidth, and he can't do torrents/excessive downloads... and on my machine, I have a full access account for my own use.

Thanks again for the idea...
 
Spare Bandwidth??

Contact me. I know how to use them perfectly. Also if it is local.
 
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