Admin Network software recommendation

[Shrewdude]

At home I have an ADSL Modem (supplied by my local internet provider) that plugs into my TimeCapsule which acts as the BaseStation and router for the network. I have computers plugged into the Ethernet ports of the TC and there are also wireless clients.

Is there a piece of software out there that would allow me to see what is the bandwidth usage of all connected clients to the TC and would also allow me to temporarily stop internet traffic to a client for a while, and then start it again at a later time? Or even perhaps set a limit of allowable bandwidth to certain clients? The Airport Utility is not very good at doing this.

I am using OS X Leopard.

Thanks

 

[belvdr]

I looked around but I cannot find anything that will dynamically allocate bandwidth for you. Of course, there are enterprise options, but nothing affordable for home setup.

 

[ChrisA]

Is there a piece of software out there that would allow me to see what is the bandwidth usage of all connected clients to the TC and would also allow me to temporarily stop internet traffic to a client for a while, and then start it again at a later time? Or even perhaps set a limit of allowable bandwidth to certain clients? The Airport Utility is not very good at doing this.

You are right the AP utility allows either access or no access baed on time of day. To do more yo've have to replace the AP with a more sophisticated router. No software you run on a Mac can throttle traffic. That software has to run on the router.

The cheapest why to do what you want is to assemble your own router. Get a copy is BSD Unix or Linux and some network interfaces and a PC or Mac. the router/firewall built into *nix can do just about anything you can think of and then a lot more. You can either write the rules directly using the iptable interface or get software to help. I like this one: http://shorewall.net/ but it runs on Linux

Once you get into traffic shaping and monitorring you have moved past what home routers wee designed for. Your options are to eaither spend $$$ on larger routers from the likes of Cisco or to assemble one with available hardware and free software.

 

[belvdr]

Well, if you're going to go that route, I'd get a $60 WRT54GL, install OpenWRT, then go here:

http://wiki.openwrt.org/MiniHowtos/QoSHowto

QoS on a cheap home router.