Traffic when idle ?

[bb_matt]

Having only recently got ADSL, I'm wondering how much traffic is used when your system/s is idle ?

I run Smoothwall (still haven't got around to configuring my DSL router) with my DSL router in bridge mode and know that it blocks a lot of dodgy requests on various ports.

I'm wondering how much data that all adds up to in the course of 24 hours.

Given the fact that we only have 3gig to play with (without shelling out more bucks), every byte counts in the long run.

Sure, if it amounts to a measly 500k a day, it's no big deal, but I'm wary of leaving my connection running 24/7.

 

[josselg]

not much at all

I run a smoothie too, and if correctly configured, ie drop all hits on port 135 etc for all the worms and sql viri, youll use very little bandwidth, its really only keep alive packets. windows update or av updates that happen automatically are what youll need to be aware of.

ps if youre using a Linux based firewall, dont worry too much about configuring your router, the dumber you keep it the better (-:

my traffic graph shows about 160k a day, at the office on a Sunday (when no ones there)

 

[ic]

josselg,

I'm sure bb_matt will correct me if I'm wrong, but I also had this concern, incoming traffic whether blocked by a router or firewall still counts towards any cap that is imposed by the ISP.

If it's only 160k then that's fine (actually seems a bit low), I think there might be others out there getting a lot more incoming & unsolicited traffic.

I also know there's the firewall forgetfullness thing that someone else raised, but it's isn't a firewall issue, it's a how is unsolicited traffic affecting my cap issue.

 

[josselg]

mmh you make a very valid point (-: however if your router or firewall responds(replies) to connection attempts instead of just dropping them you would be generating twice the amount of traffic, even though youre not initiating it, or am I just way misunderstanding bb_matt's post ?

 

[ic]

josselg,

Assume you have a firewall that blocks everything in and out, even blocks legitimate solicited traffic, nothing at all goes out, and nothing comes in, absolutely nothing.

So while you aren't actively using your cap, your firewall is still getting hits from unsolicited incoming 'stuff'.

Now the question is: how much (KB) of that 'stuff' is there within a 24hr period? How much does it contribute towards your cap being used up?

I frequently look at my firewall logs, and there is incoming stuff blocked every 30 seconds or so.

 

[bb_matt]

Checking my logs, it doesn't look like a helluva lot of traffic really - I was just curious.

I really don't know enough about networking to make any conclusions about traffic usage when idle.

I basically want to hook up to my work ADSL and visa versa, using dyndns.org
One reason is in case my cap is used up at work and I need to urgently get info from an international site.