Do they make an inexpensive home monitored router?

[duritz]

I live in a house with 4 roommates. 5 people in one big house with about a dozen computers and multiple printers and a copy machine on the network. You can imagine the frustration when the internet is slow and you can't pinpoint who it is.

I tried some software monitoring tools and couldn't get what I was looking for out of it. I was wondering if it was possible to find a home router that allowed network monitoring. Of course a lot of the machines are using wireless so a managed switch wouldn't be very useful.

So I'm hoping they make some sort of router that can monitor bandwidth based on computer name or IP address. When the network slows down I'd like the ability to tell who it is taking all of the bandwidth and if possible limit their connection so they don't bring down the other people in the house.

Is there something like this available for a home user? Is there a software package out there I missed that could do this? Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[Jimmah]

I believe a good portion of the Linux-based PC routers perform this function, eg: Smoothwall, unsure if a DD-WRT box can do it but I assume it could.

 

[Modelworks]

How good are you with Linux or command lines ?
Almost all routers in the home run linux of some sort. Some you do not even have to change the firmware to access. Try searching for your router model and telnet or debug. DD-WRT also can add the feature for lots of routers.

 

[ScoobMaster]

If you have some old hardware that you can run it on, try out Astaro security gateway:

http://www.astaro.com

They give you just about the same product as the Enterprise system we use for the entire school district I work at free for home use (up to 50 IP connections on the home license)

You'll need a machine with two network cards to run it on - one goes out to your ISP, the other one to your master switch. It is pretty powerful software - you'll have full packet filtering, intrusion prevention, bandwidth monitoring, and QoS as well as the monitoring (and filtering if you wish) you seek. I like it so much here at work that I just added a setup at home running on a Foxconn Atom D525 barebones system I picked up at newegg for under $200 (works great)

 

[xSauronx]

dunno about dd-wrt, i dont use it anymore. tomato will let you limit bandwidth on a per-mac/ip basis, and will provide bandwidth monitoring through the device...but i cant see any options to specifically monitor bandwidth by MAC/IP

you *can* configure QoS classifications and traffic types, and see your connection distribution by class in a graph. it will also let you look at all of the active connections and the source/destination ip/ports. with that and static DHCP set to give out each device the same IP every time you can actively monitor traffic and get some idea of who may be doing what...

but honestly, wouldnt it be easier to talk to everyone and discuss usage?
/i recognize that it may not be, but its still probably *better* if you have yet to have a group conversation about it

 

[VirtualLarry]

What is your connection speed right now? Because my friend's place has 7 computers, and they are fine with a Comcast 16/2 connection. Multiple people can stream Hulu, etc., download, play online games, etc. Not too many people torrent, that's pretty-much a rare occurrence at that house.

Using a TrendNet 652BRP router v1.1, newest factory firmware. (DD-WRT is available for the 1.x versions of this router.)

 

[duritz]

thanks for all the info guys. someone pm'd me software called netlimiter so i'm using that for now. i may end up using that astaro software though. looks pretty powerful. appreciate all the help.