The Best Bandwidth Meters For Comcast Customers - DUMeter? Net Meter? DD-WRT?
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punker @ 2nd Sep 02:09PM:
ddwrt
ddwrt
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Matt @ 2nd Sep 02:10PM:
Single PC? Netmeter!
It's free and just as good as DU Meter.
»www.metal-machine.de/readerror/
--
Linux Haters Unite!
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DaMaGeINC @ 2nd Sep 02:11PM:
Re: ddwrt
pFsense
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Richard B @ 2nd Sep 02:14PM:
Re: ddwrt
The problem is you have to have the right type of router. I prefer not to re flash mine, as the old saying goes, if it ain't broke don't fix it.
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punker @ 2nd Sep 02:16PM:
Re: ddwrt
netmeter does not work as they count LAN traffic
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tater_gunz @ 2nd Sep 02:16PM:
Re: ddwrt
said by punker :
ddwrt
I second that (for single households / small businesses). DD-WRT rules!
- Tate
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JusticeDun @ 2nd Sep 02:17PM:
Cancel Service
If you cancel service and go with somebody else, then you don't need one.
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freeze @ 2nd Sep 02:18PM:
Running a network? Forget DUmeter
My problem with DUMeter and alternatives (at least with the older versions) is that traffic can't be differentiated between LAN or WAN.
This past weekend I transferred at least 500gb on my internal network between 7 PCs replacing my file server. Having to manually disable the DUmeter on all the PCs is a pain. And even then I do a lot of media streaming from my central server which wouldn't be counted against my monthly cap. In addition, having no way to look up the total usage across all computers running DUMeter means I'll have to manually read and add up the monthly totals.
I'm finding the DD-WRT bandwidth option a much better way to go, but even that can be a little limiting.
Are there any other router-based solutions? I've read good things about Tomato's bandwidth monitoring software...
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jmn1207 @ 2nd Sep 02:20PM:
Re: ddwrt
Tomato will do the job, too.
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dadkins @ 2nd Sep 02:21PM:
DD-WRT, ok...
... doesn'y work with my existing D-Link router though.
So, to get DD-WRT on my line, I have to replace a perfectly working router with a new Linksys router.
Not that I will ever get close to the 250GB cap, but for S&G if I wanted to see actual WAN usage I need to blow ~$70?
Oh Joy! :huh:
--
Think outside the Fox... Opera
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DaMaGeINC @ 2nd Sep 02:21PM:
Re: ddwrt
DD-WRT>Tomato
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Matt @ 2nd Sep 02:23PM:
Re: ddwrt
said by DaMaGeINC :
DD-WRT>Tomato
Tha depends on what you want to do. I found the QoS implementation in DD-WRT v23 worthless. Tomato is very clean, simple and works well. DD-WRT is definitely more capable if you need to do other "geeky" things though.
--
Linux Haters Unite!
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swhitney2003 @ 2nd Sep 02:24PM:
Re: DD-WRT, ok...
WRT54GL, $50 free shipping. Still a lot of money just to track bandwidth for a household when there is already a perfectly running router in place.
»www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a···33124190
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jmn1207 @ 2nd Sep 02:25PM:
Re: Running a network? Forget DUmeter
said by freeze :
Are there any other router-based solutions? I've read good things about Tomato's bandwidth monitoring software...
I've have not delved too deeply into all the features, but it does show the monthly, weekly, daily, and real time WAN usage. My billing cycle happens to fall on the last day of each month, so I can just check the monthly download/upload log. It seems adequate for spot-checking my monthly usage limits. I was under 15GB for August.
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Chiyo @ 2nd Sep 02:25PM:
Re: Running a network? Forget DUmeter
said by freeze :
My problem with DUMeter and alternatives (at least with the older versions) is that traffic can't be differentiated between LAN or WAN.
This past weekend I transferred at least 500gb on my internal network between 7 PCs replacing my file server. Having to manually disable the DUmeter on all the PCs is a pain. And even then I do a lot of media streaming from my central server which wouldn't be counted against my monthly cap. In addition, having no way to look up the total usage across all computers running DUMeter means I'll have to manually read and add up the monthly totals.
I'm finding the DD-WRT bandwidth option a much better way to go, but even that can be a little limiting.
Are there any other router-based solutions? I've read good things about Tomato's bandwidth monitoring software...
I'm in the same boat, I don't have a linksys WRT54G and I'm sure as hell not buying one to please Comcast... What to do? My WRV200 with SNMP doesn't even work (thanks linksys) anyway comcast sure as hell better provide something.
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jmn1207 @ 2nd Sep 02:27PM:
Re: ddwrt
said by DaMaGeINC :
DD-WRT>Tomato
Yes, it has more features and can do more, but Tomato will get the job done for many of us.
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anon @ 2nd Sep 02:27PM:
Most won't need anything.....
but those 'power users' should get a router based solution whether it's dd-wrt or something else, even if they have a single PC.
There's a lot of unsolicited traffic you'll never see that gets past the modem but is ignored by the router. It's not going to amount to gigs, but measuring this type of traffic as well will provide you with a 'accurate' calculation of how much Comcast thinks you are using.
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Chiyo @ 2nd Sep 02:27PM:
is it too early to sue?
I know some people are going to say "all we ever do is sue people in America" but c'mon not providing a tool is common sense stuff.
Do we have to wait until someone goes over and then sue them? I smell a class action if something isn't done by Comcast.
--
My Blog:
»abanzai.animeblogger.net/
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N3OGH @ 2nd Sep 02:28PM:
B bbbbbut I thought
But I thought Comcast was the BMW to DSL's Yugo?
What's the point of an uber fast Bimmer if they limit the amount of Autobahn you can drive on it?
--
Petty people are disproportionably corrupted by petty power…
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swhitney2003 @ 2nd Sep 02:31PM:
By 30 days, or by month
Does anyone know if the amount of bandwidth used is compared against the past 30days, or each month (each month on billing date perhaps?)?
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DaMaGeINC @ 2nd Sep 02:31PM:
Re: ddwrt
Simple people then. I need sophisticated software.
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dadkins @ 2nd Sep 02:32PM:
Re: DD-WRT, ok...
Thanks for link!
Not real good on waiting on deliveries & no credit card so...
{short}Circuit City would be my option. $79.99.
--
Think outside the Fox... Opera
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anon @ 2nd Sep 02:34PM:
LOL
You're all SCREWED!
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jmn1207 @ 2nd Sep 02:36PM:
NebuAd Bandwidth Meter
I can just see some 3rd party designing a meter that installs on each computer on a network and communicates it's results to some remote location that can be accesses at any time to see the results.
It will probably be free, and most likely nefarious in it's overall intention, or at least a privacy concern of some sort or another.
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jazzlady @ 2nd Sep 02:37PM:
Everybody should complain...
I suggest that everyone who has Comcast either call or email or both complaining about the lack of an online bandwidth meter.
If enough customers clog their system with complaints, perhaps they'll implement one.
If a small ISP like Prolog (Pennsylvania) can give you an online bandwidth meter- there is NO excuse for an ISP the size of Comcast to not have the same feature.
Bit©h and moan, people! Squeaky wheels get the grease! LOL
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jmn1207 @ 2nd Sep 02:37PM:
Re: ddwrt
said by DaMaGeINC :
Simple people then. I need sophisticated software.
I resemble that remark! :)
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lordofwhee @ 2nd Sep 02:39PM:
Re: B bbbbbut I thought
250GB is A LOT, even if it was both upstream and down.
According to DD-WRT, I managed to use ~130GB of bandwidth (both up and down) last month. I spend a vast majority of my time on the internet, browsing, playing games, downloading stuff, etc. I thought I'd be closer to 200GB.
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Nightfall @ 2nd Sep 02:40PM:
Re: ddwrt
said by Matt :said by DaMaGeINC :
DD-WRT>Tomato
Tha depends on what you want to do. I found the QoS implementation in DD-WRT v23 worthless. Tomato is very clean, simple and works well. DD-WRT is definitely more capable if you need to do other "geeky" things though.
Whats next? A "Tastes Great" "Less Filling" argument?
Both DD-WRT and Tomato are awesome. I have used them both. It really depends on what you want to do that makes them both so flexible and the better product.
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Vchat20 @ 2nd Sep 02:41PM:
Simple...
It's actually quite simple and doesn't need a lovely worded news post like this to start another daily inter-BBR sissywar.
If it's a single PC network with that machine hooked directly to the modem, Netmeter or DUmeter will work. Former is freeware, latter is payware. BOTH do the same exact thing and are literal clones of one another.
If it's a multiple machine network with a router, the above mentioned software will NOT work because they count LAN traffic as well. In this scenario you need a router based solution and the EASIEST method is to get a Linksys based router that you can flash your favorite third party firmware on, be it DD-WRT, Tomato, or any other flavor out there. All of them SHOULD have bandwidth monitoring by now.
Or if you are really adventurous, spare about $20 or 15 minutes of dumpster diving and build yourself a PC based router using smoothwall, pfsense, etc.. Your choice depending on your tastes. All either have built in bandwidth meters or have available mods to do so.
So-called 'Super Users' who are worried about the cap in the first place should have no problem sorting out the above on their own. Your average joe will not be concerned nor even come anywhere close to it so all of this is a misnomer.
And I'd like to see the press report that says 'the company won't be providing users with a website to track usage'.
--
I swear, some people should have pace-makers installed to free up the resources. Breathing and heart beat taxes their whole system, all of their brain cells wasted on life support.-two bit brains, and the second bit is wasted on parity! ~head_spaz
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jmn1207 @ 2nd Sep 02:42PM:
Re: Everybody should complain...
Just as soon as I get my automated customer to customer service voice response system working so I don't have to waste 2 hours of my time.
"Hello, I have a problem with my Comcast service. If you require my telephone number, please press 1 now, if you need my account number, please select 2..."
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anon @ 2nd Sep 02:44PM:
this model won't work
the internet was never designed to work as a service metered by the byte and companies who try this are going to fail, though starting out from 30% market share.. they have a long, long ways to fall into the competition's hands.
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tad2020 @ 2nd Sep 02:44PM:
Re: ddwrt
That's what I use. Works great. DDWRT is fine if you've got a router that it supports, but pFsense only needs a old unused PC.
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mike12806 @ 2nd Sep 02:51PM:
dd-wrt micro
can you do bandwidth monitoring on dd-wrt micro?
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Chiyo @ 2nd Sep 02:51PM:
Re: By 30 days, or by month
Your billing cycle.
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jtorre69 @ 2nd Sep 02:56PM:
DSL doesn't put you through this.....
This is outrageous. Cable HSI boycott should take place to show them this is not acceptable.
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cajun4x4 @ 2nd Sep 02:59PM:
Comcast needs to provide.
Bottom line is that if Comcast wants to implement caps then they need to be able to provide the user data in realtime of what there system is measuring. Just like a cell phone provider does.
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TK Junk Mail @ 2nd Sep 03:01PM:
Netlimiter 2 Monitor is free and knows lan from wan
Try the free Netlimiter 2 Monitor free version found at this web page:
»www.netlimiter.com/download.php
I can separate local lan traffic from internet traffic in its monitoring.
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SilverSurfer @ 2nd Sep 03:01PM:
Re: B bbbbbut I thought
said by lordofwhee :
250GB is A LOT, even if it was both upstream and down.
A lot being relative to user needs. 250 gigs may be
"a lot" for the folks checking email and the weather, but not everyone is so easily classifiable.
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jdmatl @ 2nd Sep 03:04PM:
Re: DSL doesn't put you through this.....
DSL Caps on the way soon. AT&T already said so. Google "AT&T DSL caps"
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dadkins @ 2nd Sep 03:06PM:
Re: B bbbbbut I thought
said by SilverSurfer :said by lordofwhee :
250GB is A LOT, even if it was both upstream and down.
A lot being relative to user needs. 250 gigs may be
"a lot" for the folks checking email and the weather, but not everyone is so easily classifiable.
Email and weather?
That would hit the 10GB mark if you were REALLY at it.
250GB would mean downloading... "items" at a fairly good pace.
Just be glad they didn't follow Rogers with 60GB as a cap!
Wouldn't affect me, but it might severly piss off a few, no?
--
Think outside the Fox... Opera
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jaminus @ 2nd Sep 03:08PM:
Re: ddwrt
Tomato is amazing. Yes, DD-WRT might have more features, but Tomato still has 10 times as many features as even a power user might need, but with much greater simplicity.
Also, Tomato's bandwidth meter is amazing. Real-time usage graphs, day-by-day breakdown of transfer amounts and neat charts as well. Very impressive.
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punker @ 2nd Sep 03:09PM:
Re: DD-WRT, ok...
works on some dlink routers
»dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Suppor···s#D-Link
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anon @ 2nd Sep 03:10PM:
What about for Mac users
All this stuff I hear being bantered about seem to be for Windows users. What about for those of us running Mac or Linux, etc.?
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amungus @ 2nd Sep 03:11PM:
What about DHCP and their caps??????
This has to suck for those who really do wish to simply monitor for their own curiosity... and don't already have a solution in place.
Have had Tomato for about a month now, and it's alright so far. Definitely impressed by the QoS and application blocking features. Bandwidth monitor seems usable, but might be a little flaky - haven't tested it enough to know how stable it is as far as remembering info after a power cycle for example...
Still, for what it is, I am happy that it's available, and that it works reasonably well. Thought about DD-WRT, but went w/Tomato after reading that its QoS works better, and that the application blocking works easily... and I'm happy to report that it does what it claims very well.
I have a feeling this 'cap' will cause more headaches than it's designed to fix...
What if you get a new IP address that "the system" thinks has already used up 249GB and then you use up 2 more GB, and get harassed???
How does one system talk to the others??? Do they have something in place for this situation???
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Cjaiceman @ 2nd Sep 03:11PM:
Re: ddwrt
If you have an old PC pfsense is the way to do it. I use an old Gateway Performance 1300
P4 @ 1.3GHz
384MB RDRAM
20GB HDD
2x Gigabit Linksys 1032 PCI
I am on the Business account, so the 250GB cap doesn't apply (from what I've heard).
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Cjaiceman @ 2nd Sep 03:19PM:
Re: DSL doesn't put you through this.....
Too late, Qwest already has them as well. They are an invisible cap set to 250GB. So, my choices are 250GB with comcast, or 250GB with Qwest.... (if I wasn't on a business account).
»torrentfreak.com/qwests-unoffici···-080829/
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jazzlady @ 2nd Sep 03:19PM:
Re: Everybody should complain...
said by jmn1207 :
Just as soon as I get my automated customer to customer service voice response system working so I don't have to waste 2 hours of my time.
"Hello, I have a problem with my Comcast service. If you require my telephone number, please press 1 now, if you need my account number, please select 2..."
ROTFL
That was good. ;-)
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DaMaGeINC @ 2nd Sep 03:20PM:
Re: ddwrt
Lol. On my network. I have monitors on each pc, on the gateway router(pFsense) and on my edge routers(2 of them)(DD-WRT). Thats 3 meters between me and the internet.
I can see how much traffic goes through each internet connection, I can see total internet traffic combined, and total pc traffic on the network. Works great.
--
Have a Networking problem or question? Stop by the Networking Forum and let us help you.
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tekmunki @ 2nd Sep 03:22PM:
Re: What about DHCP and their caps??????
said by amungus :
This has to suck for those who really do wish to simply monitor for their own curiosity... and don't already have a solution in place.
Have had Tomato for about a month now, and it's alright so far. Definitely impressed by the QoS and application blocking features. Bandwidth monitor seems usable, but might be a little flaky - haven't tested it enough to know how stable it is as far as remembering info after a power cycle for example...
Still, for what it is, I am happy that it's available, and that it works reasonably well. Thought about DD-WRT, but went w/Tomato after reading that its QoS works better, and that the application blocking works easily... and I'm happy to report that it does what it claims very well.
I have a feeling this 'cap' will cause more headaches than it's designed to fix...
What if you get a new IP address that "the system" thinks has already used up 249GB and then you use up 2 more GB, and get harassed???
How does one system talk to the others??? Do they have something in place for this situation???
The authorized MAC addresses don't change, that is likely what they are monitoring.
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tekmunki @ 2nd Sep 03:23PM:
Re: What about for Mac users
said by memaccom :
All this stuff I hear being bantered about seem to be for Windows users. What about for those of us running Mac or Linux, etc.?
Linux- IPtables and Syslog, webmin has a nice parser for this that gives you pretty graphs and everything.
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puffedmom @ 2nd Sep 03:25PM:
DD-WRT Bandwidth monitor
DD-WRT Bandwidth monitor. I find it the best since it directly on the hardware for your network
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djdanska @ 2nd Sep 03:26PM:
Re: What about DHCP and their caps??????
said by tekmunki :said by amungus :
This has to suck for those who really do wish to simply monitor for their own curiosity... and don't already have a solution in place.
Have had Tomato for about a month now, and it's alright so far. Definitely impressed by the QoS and application blocking features. Bandwidth monitor seems usable, but might be a little flaky - haven't tested it enough to know how stable it is as far as remembering info after a power cycle for example...
Still, for what it is, I am happy that it's available, and that it works reasonably well. Thought about DD-WRT, but went w/Tomato after reading that its QoS works better, and that the application blocking works easily... and I'm happy to report that it does what it claims very well.
I have a feeling this 'cap' will cause more headaches than it's designed to fix...
What if you get a new IP address that "the system" thinks has already used up 249GB and then you use up 2 more GB, and get harassed???
How does one system talk to the others??? Do they have something in place for this situation???
The authorized MAC addresses don't change, that is likely what they are monitoring.
Ok, fair enough.. So i just change the mac address of my nic card or router. Would that reset my cap? (I doubt it would be that easy)
--
When you do things right, people won't be sure you've done anything at all.
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Dogfather @ 2nd Sep 03:26PM:
Re: ddwrt
Yeah, you run NAS or otherwise move or stream files to another machine you're screwed.
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Cjaiceman @ 2nd Sep 03:31PM:
Re: What about DHCP and their caps??????
quote:
What if you get a new IP address that "the system" thinks has already used up 249GB and then you use up 2 more GB, and get harassed???
Realistically it will probably be based on your modem's MAC address, which does not change with IP addresses. If you change routers your modem's MAC does not change. That is how they link your account to your modem right now.
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Matt @ 2nd Sep 03:34PM:
Re: ddwrt
said by DaMaGeINC :
Lol. On my network. I have monitors on each pc, on the gateway router(pFsense) and on my edge routers(2 of them)(DD-WRT). Thats 3 meters between me and the internet.
I can see how much traffic goes through each internet connection, I can see total internet traffic combined, and total pc traffic on the network. Works great.
You should look into a network monitoring system to reduce all that overhead.
--
Linux Haters Unite!
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Nightfall @ 2nd Sep 03:36PM:
Re: ddwrt
said by Dogfather :
Yeah, you run NAS or otherwise move or stream files to another machine you're screwed.
Netlimiter has a really good interface and keeps track of local traffic and internet traffic. I highly recommend it.
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tekmunki @ 2nd Sep 03:38PM:
Re: What about DHCP and their caps??????
said by djdanska :
Ok, fair enough.. So i just change the mac address of my nic card or router. Would that reset my cap? (I doubt it would be that easy)
Nope. If you somehow manage to change your modem's wan MAC then it deauthorizes you and you won't be downloading anything...
--
TekMunki
"There are 10 types of people in this world, those who understand binary and those who don't."
www.tekmunki.com
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ropeguru @ 2nd Sep 03:40PM:
Re: Comcast needs to provide.
said by cajun4x4 :
Bottom line is that if Comcast wants to implement caps then they need to be able to provide the user data in realtime of what there system is measuring. Just like a cell phone provider does.
I completely agree. Pretty much everything out there today that has limits gives you a way to monitor your usage and provides you a breakdown of what was used when. Cell phones, credit cards, limited mileage on rentals, etc. Why should internet providers be any different. There should be a monitoring and reporting system, a way for users to access the data, and a clear explanation on how the numbers are recorded and tracked.
Oh, wait... We are talking about greedy corporations here. That will never happen.
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anon @ 2nd Sep 03:44PM:
Re: dd-wrt micro
yes but when you flash the firmware, the bandwidth log dont save
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Phil @ 2nd Sep 03:48PM:
DD-WRT/Tomato with compatible router...
I use Tomato at home...
Tomato Bandwidth Monitor |
ztmike @ 2nd Sep 03:48PM:
WRT54G?
All these "programs" you guys are listing is mainly for other newer routers..anything for a WRT54G Linksys wireless router?
--
ZZPERFORMANCE
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Phil @ 2nd Sep 03:49PM:
Re: WRT54G?
It's version dependent, but if you have a version 8 WRT54G your only option (and a good option at that) is DD-WRT micro version.
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Phil @ 2nd Sep 03:49PM:
Re: DD-WRT Bandwidth monitor
said by puffedmom :
DD-WRT Bandwidth monitor. I find it the best since it directly on the hardware for your network
Tomato does this as well.
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Doctor Four @ 2nd Sep 03:50PM:
Re: ddwrt
Either that or Tomato. If all you have on your network are
PCs, then DUMeter/NetMeter on each will do. But without
something on the router to track usage, you could easily
go over the 250GB monthly usage limit if you have any of
the following devices (assuming that content is being
streamed online instead of on your local LAN:
XBox360
Tivo
Vudu TV
Slingbox
Netflix Roku
Taken from the following article:
»newteevee.com/2008/08/29/five-de···ore-7547
--
"The trouble with computers, of course, is that they are very sophisticated idiots." - Doctor Who (from Robot)
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dadkins @ 2nd Sep 03:52PM:
Re: DD-WRT, ok...
Thanks! :)
DI624 here - no dice. :(
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RARPSL @ 2nd Sep 03:54PM:
Re: is it too early to sue?
said by Chiyo :
I know some people are going to say "all we ever do is sue people in America" but c'mon not providing a tool is common sense stuff.
Do we have to wait until someone goes over and then sue them? I smell a class action if something isn't done by Comcast.
Since they are going to be charging/limiting you for some claimed usage, they should be providing the numbers that are supposedly being used on a website (whose usage should NOT count towards the usage limit). Otherwise they are not supporting their claims of your usage. For all other "metered" type items, you are given access to the numbers (or the physical meter) that are being used - Why are they refusing to provide these numbers but claiming to have them but saying they are not available for viewing?
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ztmike @ 2nd Sep 03:56PM:
Re: WRT54G?
Its a V5
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espaeth @ 2nd Sep 03:56PM:
Re: What about for Mac users
said by memaccom :
All this stuff I hear being bantered about seem to be for Windows users. What about for those of us running Mac or Linux, etc.?
Simple: vnstat »www.humdi.net/vnstat
Pretty/Complex: cacti »www.cacti.net
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espaeth @ 2nd Sep 03:58PM:
Re: ddwrt
said by DaMaGeINC :
Lol. On my network. I have monitors on each pc, on the gateway router(pFsense) and on my edge routers(2 of them)(DD-WRT).
If you're running pfSense, why use edge routers at all?
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Dogfather @ 2nd Sep 03:58PM:
Re: ddwrt
Luckly so far Cox doesn't seem to enforce their low 40GB cap at all and Verizon couldn't care less.
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Phil @ 2nd Sep 04:01PM:
Re: WRT54G?
Version 5 and up only have 8MB flash and 2MB RAM so they are limited to DD-WRT micro versions. You should be able to install DD-WRT micro on your version 5.
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ztmike @ 2nd Sep 04:09PM:
hold off
Hm..I think I'll just hold off till I can buy a newer router..how about the wrt54gs routers?
--
ZZPERFORMANCE
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iansltx @ 2nd Sep 04:12PM:
Re: dd-wrt micro
Using DD-WRT micro right now but will be using an Asus router soon. Hopefully it will have logging because the router has some features that DD-WRT doesn't support. If I do use DD-WRT the mega version will fit on the router, so I get it all...
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Killa200 @ 2nd Sep 04:15PM:
Re: hold off
if you are going to stay in linksys territory, you'd actually be better off getting an older router, something around the WRT54G v1 - v4 range
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iansltx @ 2nd Sep 04:18PM:
Re: hold off
WRT54G and GS can do DD-WRT (micro or regular, depends). Micro has b\w monitoring, relatively same features as the stock firmware otherwise. Oh, and it has DynDNS capability as well.
Be forewarned, however, that torrenting on anything but a private tracker will likely bring the router downwith . 8MB of memory isn't enough for that, hence my upgrade to the Asus wl500w (32 MB RAM) tomorrow.
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punker @ 2nd Sep 04:25PM:
Re: ddwrt
said by Cjaiceman :
If you have an old PC pfsense is the way to do it. I use an old Gateway Performance 1300
P4 @ 1.3GHz
384MB RDRAM
20GB HDD
2x Gigabit Linksys 1032 PCI
I am on the Business account, so the 250GB cap doesn't apply (from what I've heard).
But running a PC 24/7 cost too much
my router uses less then 10 watts
yourPC uses 250 to 300 watts
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DaMaGeINC @ 2nd Sep 04:27PM:
Re: ddwrt
Your right, but my setup, I need the edge routers. They are both wireless in nature. And the radios are not in the networking closet.
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DaMaGeINC @ 2nd Sep 04:31PM:
Re: ddwrt
I used to do SNMP monitoring with MRTG. But that program does not like when you change network settings and ip's. You had to reconfig the cfg files to match the new configuration. After a few years, that got annoying.
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DataDoc @ 2nd Sep 04:36PM:
This is like driving a car with no speedometer
and getting a ticket for "speeding."
Why should we have to figure out what we're using by flashing routers, using an old pc , etc.?
Every user should call tech support and demand a current measurement. Every single day.
--
Do you mean Nikolai Tesla, the genius who invented alternating current electric power? Or Nikolai Tesla, the total nut-job?
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Kfedka @ 2nd Sep 04:46PM:
Re: ddwrt
I use tomato as well, on down side is that if the router powers down(storm, unplugged, etc) then you lose all the transfered amounts :(
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Dan888 @ 2nd Sep 04:50PM:
Re: B bbbbbut I thought
said by lordofwhee :
250GB is A LOT, even if it was both upstream and down.
According to DD-WRT, I managed to use ~130GB of bandwidth (both up and down) last month. I spend a vast majority of my time on the internet, browsing, playing games, downloading stuff, etc. I thought I'd be closer to 200GB.
This "a lot" works out to be less than 5 percent of what is possible on a 16mbps connection.
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ptrowski @ 2nd Sep 04:54PM:
Re: DD-WRT/Tomato with compatible router...
said by Phil :
I use Tomato at home...
Ha! Mordor.....
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ptrowski @ 2nd Sep 04:55PM:
Re: hold off
said by Killa200 :
if you are going to stay in linksys territory, you'd actually be better off getting an older router, something around the WRT54G v1 - v4 range
Now it is the WRT54GL.
--
"A religious war is like children fighting over who has the strongest imaginary friend."
Have you been touched by his noodly appendage? »www.venganza.org
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espaeth @ 2nd Sep 05:24PM:
Re: B bbbbbut I thought
said by Dan888 :
This "a lot" works out to be less than 5 percent of what is possible on a 16mbps connection.
.. a 16 mbps connection on a 38mbps DOCSIS channel shared with at least 125 other users.
That's how they're able to deliver service to you for ~$50/mo. 16mbps of dedicated/unshared access would likely be more than your mortgage payment.
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jester121 @ 2nd Sep 05:35PM:
Re: ddwrt
said by espaeth :
If you're running pfSense, why use edge routers at all?
Cause he wants to be cool and use terms like "edge router" a lot? :D
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blackzero @ 2nd Sep 05:41PM:
Re: DD-WRT/Tomato with compatible router...
Me too I do like you
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E90Alan @ 2nd Sep 05:58PM:
Re: What about for Mac users
»freespace.virgin.net/jeremy.dron···ies.html
SurplusMeter works for the Mac.
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tad2020 @ 2nd Sep 06:05PM:
Re: ddwrt
I'm using one of these and it's only using about 30-50 watts under its 5% load.
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quatrix @ 2nd Sep 06:19PM:
Re: ddwrt
That's $40 - $50 a year in electricity costs if you keep it running 24/7.
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tad2020 @ 2nd Sep 06:23PM:
Re: ddwrt
It at my office and I do more with it than just simple NAT routing, its setup as a multi-wan service gateway and DNS.
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knightmb @ 2nd Sep 06:24PM:
Re: ddwrt
m0n0wall :D
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tad2020 @ 2nd Sep 06:28PM:
Re: ddwrt
pFsense is based off m0n0wall, except m0n0wall doesn't support multi-wan still I think.
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techjoe @ 2nd Sep 06:55PM:
Maybe slightly off-topic but...
How does this account for unsolicited traffic?
Lets assume I'm on Comcast and some d00d decides that a steady 150kbit stream at my IP address would be cool. Be it UDP, TCP (drops), ICMP, whatever. Can Comcast really do detailed accounting as to connection states? What about the many stateless protocols? What if a Comcast user's IP address gets published in some default config on accident for some media streaming app. Or the million other ways one can get traffic they never asked for.
Will Comcast tell if it's legit traffic or not?
What about the meter? What if I started getting garbage tossed at my address which is blocked by the windows firewall. Will these free monitoring apps still see the packets? If not, and Comcast does in fact go based on "all traffic" and not "legit traffic", here comes a big finger pointing game. Comcast says you did 400gb, your meter says 12gb. Comcast wins?
I'm very curious how they'll be able to handle this. All it takes is one kid with a DDoS tool on a PC somewhere to just slam their buddy with traffic and viola, ISP termination? It seems too simple -- But I can't really see Comcast going to such great lengths to be accurate, given their track record.
--
Baka wa shinanakya naoranai
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knightmb @ 2nd Sep 07:37PM:
Re: ddwrt
How many customers have two cable modems going to the same router? ;)
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tad2020 @ 2nd Sep 07:56PM:
Re: ddwrt
If it's for your business, you might.
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KevNYC @ 2nd Sep 08:20PM:
Re: ddwrt
said by tad2020 :
If it's for your business, you might.
The cap doesn't apply to business class users, so pretty pointless.
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skovacsiss @ 2nd Sep 08:28PM:
DD-WRT
Works great! When the Frontier announcement hit, I was able to see that I had used 38GB in July. So I switched.
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TheMG @ 2nd Sep 08:39PM:
Re: ddwrt
said by punker :
yourPC uses 250 to 300 watts
Yeah right. A gaming system under full load uses this much. An old PC being used as a router would only use a fraction of that. Because a PC has a 300W+ power supply does not mean it actually uses this much.
Heck, you could easily enough get down to under 20-30 watts just get a mobile CPU (for low power usage) and an SSD. No need to have a power-gobbing video card either, onboard is all you need.
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anon @ 2nd Sep 08:57PM:
Being Able To Check Bandwidth Usage
Boy Comcast had better include some type of usage data statistics for users when they log in to see their bill! If they don't, it won't be long until they are sued and forced to do it. So my advice to Comcast is... Get it done!
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tad2020 @ 2nd Sep 09:01PM:
Re: ddwrt
If it's a home office and they don't offer business class service to your location or if the price is prohibitive, like TWC.
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Dixit @ 2nd Sep 09:16PM:
DDWRT, where is this option?
I just moved from Tomato and dont see anything like what Tomato had about seeing daily, weekly, and monthly usage reports.
DD-WRT only seems to show me the live charts. Unless Im missing something. I have the V1 WRT54GS and running the v24 mega generic firmware.
Dixit
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S_engineer @ 2nd Sep 09:52PM:
Re: What about DHCP and their caps??????
What about us that are running SMAC?
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anon @ 3rd Sep 07:55AM:
Re: DDWRT, where is this option?
Best part about all of this is that the Business class users can use the same exact modem as a consumer and have no cap at all. Once again a money scam from a greedy company.
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trebacz @ 2nd Sep 10:57PM:
Smoothwall freeware edition running on a old Pentium II
Allows me to very closely manage my internal network. Shows RRD graphs of all my internal and external traffic. It shows usage by day, month, week, and month for the last two periods. Firewall will also show IP machine traffic in real time. Been on it for about 2 years, since and very over utilized Linksys crapped out. Really happy -my usage last month 28.6GB
»www.smoothwall.org/
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Unit649 @ 2nd Sep 11:22PM:
Re: This is like driving a car with no speedometer
Nah, you use the RPM gauge like they use in NASCAR :)
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NickD @ 2nd Sep 11:42PM:
What happens if you're over 250 GB?
Do they cut you off or slow you down or charge you more?
If you're not affected by the invisible cap now, you won't be affected in the future
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DaMaGeINC @ 3rd Sep 12:55AM:
Re: ddwrt
How many Charter customers have a 26/3Mbps connection?
hehehe ;)
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anon @ 3rd Sep 07:55AM:
Re: B bbbbbut I thought
I am sick of everyone relating broadband caps to "downloading". Come on, get out of the 90's! It's all about streaming today. Try having 3 kids, a spouse and a dog all streaming music and video and not hitting the cap. Eventually, with On Demand internet video, you won't need cable tv and they don't want you filling up at the all-you-can-eat buffet.
.
Comcast perpetuates the "downloading" blather to cover up the reality. You know, it's like.... "To hit our cap you would have to send 40 billion emails, download 80,000 songs, upload the dictionary 2 million times, etc, so you see, we really are justified in setting caps to go after those real nasty download offenders."
.
Wake up. Watching a youtube video will eventually cost you money. Letting shoutcast radio play while you leave the house to go to the store will be like leaving all the lights on.
.
Just give me a meter, a reliable connection and consistent speed. Is that too much to ask?
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DataDoc @ 3rd Sep 02:19AM:
Re: This is like driving a car with no speedometer
said by Unit649 :
Nah, you use the RPM gauge like they use in NASCAR :)
Now if it was only labeled in GB. |
Cjaiceman @ 3rd Sep 02:27AM:
Re: ddwrt
said by TheMG :said by punker :
yourPC uses 250 to 300 watts
Yeah right. A gaming system under full load uses this much. An old PC being used as a router would only use a fraction of that.
Actually.... hehe... my gaming PC w/ 2 22" LCD monitors use that at idle... while gaming its about 510-515 watts... :huh:
--
Duct tape is like The Force – it has a light side and a dark side, and it binds the Universe together
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compton @ 3rd Sep 02:49AM:
Re: Maybe slightly off-topic but...
said by techjoe :
How does this account for unsolicited traffic?
Lets assume I'm on Comcast and some d00d decides that a steady 150kbit stream at my IP address would be cool. Be it UDP, TCP (drops), ICMP, whatever. Can Comcast really do detailed accounting as to connection states? What about the many stateless protocols? What if a Comcast user's IP address gets published in some default config on accident for some media streaming app. Or the million other ways one can get traffic they never asked for.
Will Comcast tell if it's legit traffic or not?
What about the meter? What if I started getting garbage tossed at my address which is blocked by the windows firewall. Will these free monitoring apps still see the packets? If not, and Comcast does in fact go based on "all traffic" and not "legit traffic", here comes a big finger pointing game. Comcast says you did 400gb, your meter says 12gb. Comcast wins?
I'm very curious how they'll be able to handle this. All it takes is one kid with a DDoS tool on a PC somewhere to just slam their buddy with traffic and viola, ISP termination? It seems too simple -- But I can't really see Comcast going to such great lengths to be accurate, given their track record.
For now the limit is only for downloads.
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dvd536 @ 3rd Sep 03:36AM:
Re: B bbbbbut I thought
said by dadkins :said by SilverSurfer :said by lordofwhee :
250GB is A LOT, even if it was both upstream and down.
A lot being relative to user needs. 250 gigs may be
"a lot" for the folks checking email and the weather, but not everyone is so easily classifiable.
Email and weather?
That would hit the 10GB mark if you were REALLY at it.
250GB would mean downloading... "items" at a fairly good pace.
Just be glad they didn't follow Rogers with 60GB as a cap!
Wouldn't affect me, but it might severly piss off a few, no?
60gigs is what we get on the top tier on cox.
look for that 250gig cap to drop when overages arent what comcast hoped for.
--
When I gez aju zavateh na nalechoo more new yonooz tonigh molinigh - Ken Lee
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tmc8080 @ 3rd Sep 06:42AM:
Month of October... goal to unsubscribe from Comcast!
I want to see a net subscriber loss for Comcast in the month of October and every month after. That will send a clear message to the last mile isp industry!
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techjoe @ 3rd Sep 09:09AM:
Re: Maybe slightly off-topic but...
Great, only data received? Can they accurately account for "legit" traffic and "malicious" traffic coming at the user? I could send you 500gb of data that your modem will have no choice but to "download" to your PC or router without your consent..Would that put one over their limit? :huh:
--
Baka wa shinanakya naoranai
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acoustix @ 3rd Sep 09:36AM:
Stupid ISPs....
If ISPs are going to put hard caps in place then they need to provide traffic information to their customers. What Comcast is doing is irresponsible. If you're going to enforce a cap on traffic then give the customers a simple web interface to monitor their usage.
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joetaxpayer @ 3rd Sep 12:38PM:
Re: What about for Mac users
Yup, that's what I got as well. It also just tracks traffic running out the ethernet port, so LAN traffic counts, although it offers a "pause" button, so I pause before running a backup, or moving large files.
Funny, I've used only 1000.3 MB since 9/1, and the app shows I'm under my quota by 16GB from the last two days. I wonder how many people will now feel they should at least use 200GB, when before, they didn't break 50.
For the amount of TV I watch, I can cancel cable, and just torrent the few shows I'd want to see. Hmmm.....
Joe
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souleater @ 3rd Sep 03:39PM:
Re: Everybody should complain...
I would have to agree. We're talking PA and Jersey, it's not like they have a nationwide customer base. Step it up there, Comcast...
-soul
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Morac @ 3rd Sep 05:54PM:
Re: ddwrt
said by Kfedka :
I use tomato as well, on down side is that if the router powers down(storm, unplugged, etc) then you lose all the transfered amounts :(
You can set up a script to backup this data to either a JFFS, CIFS volume or an FTP site. I choose a FTP site since it doesn't continuously write to the router's flash area nor does it require a PC that's on 24/7.
I have Tomato setup to upload my stats to a ftp server every 12 hours. In the case of a power failure or router reset, the data is fetched so I only lose at most 12 hours of data.
See »www.linksysinfo.org/forums/showt···?t=51827
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Bluegrassman @ 4th Sep 02:09AM:
Re: DD-WRT, ok...
said by dadkins :
... Not that I will ever get close to the 250GB cap, but for S&G if I wanted to see actual WAN usage I need to blow ~$70?
Oh Joy! :huh:
Hi-ya dadkins! Long time no see.
If anybody has the ability to far surpass the cap, it would be you with your screaming connection dude!! :D
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DaMaGeINC @ 4th Sep 08:59AM:
Re: ddwrt
I do...
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metrodust @ 4th Sep 12:57PM:
Re: ddwrt
said by knightmb :
How many customers have two cable modems going to the same router? ;)
i do. speakeasy DSL and comcast cable..
--
When you are leaving.. heaven is a distance not a place. --Carissas Weird
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dodgetech2 @ 4th Sep 02:01PM:
Re: ddwrt
said by Dogfather :
Yeah, you run NAS or otherwise move or stream files to another machine you're screwed.
Are you saying they count the stuff moved around on my own network?
That cant be right... no way that's true....
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Unit649 @ 4th Sep 10:48PM:
Re: This is like driving a car with no speedometer
It should be, the ones in NASCAR are labeled RPM, and even have numbers on them....
Don't tell me the internet RPM gauge wouldn't be properly labeled! Talk about a design defect....you mean those NASCAR guys are smarter than us?
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inferno @ 6th Sep 01:08PM:
Re: Maybe slightly off-topic but...
said by compton :
For now the limit is only for downloads.
You are wrong, check out the moderator's post from the comcast forum (his name is in red)
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hack4fun @ 8th Sep 12:14AM:
Re: DD-WRT, ok...
Yeah, you do David... Ya know you must be a pirate to anything faster 3mbps down? So might as well blow 70.00 to keep track of all the pirated software ya download, lol
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anon @ 14th Sep 11:57AM:
Re: Running a network? Forget DUmeter
NetLimiter allows you to differentiate between LAN and internet traffic. It's just as full featured as NetMeter and DU Meter, and it's free (unlike DU Meter).
404 Tech Support article on bandwidth meters.
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