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DSL bandwidth usage

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by parbo 1 view

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Hello everyone, I need some help and where is the best place to turn? I'm in it. Anyway here's my situation. I need to monitor the bandwith usage for a DSL connection. I'm looking for a good program (free if possible) to accomplish this (since i will capture the usage over a few days for a many hours).
Now here's the setup: the DSL links to a hub, firewall and from there goes to two AS/400 systems and two other hubs. The DSL router is a cisco 678. If I understand this right you should be ableto use SNMP to monitor this but since SNMP packets are not secure at all and dont want to enable this on the router. I will be monitoring the usage from a station on the local network.
Ok so what I would like to know is some best practices on how to accomplish this, what
program(s) to use. Would it be safe to enable SNMP for this? (SNMP is also enabled on the AS/400 servers)
Let me hear you thoughts on this and many thanks in advance.
If I left out any required details that you would needfor a solution please feel free to ask. I will respond as promptly as possible.

6 replies

by parbo

This might be relevant to know is that we are wondering if we have enough bandwidth for all our remote locations. Currently running 1MB DSL

by meganetcomputers

I would recommend that you turn on SNMP but make sure that any patches that are available for your router are installed. You should also be able to track the bandwidth usage in your firewall that is attached to your DSL router. This would be the best bet because you can access it from within the secured network and you do not have to worry about outside access unless you leave the port open to the external port. If you need any further assistance please e-mail my company at support@meganetcomputers.com

by dont-bother

I'm sure any SNMP programs 'good enough' to do what you want would probably only be a Cisco program.

Again, you guys aren't saying WHAT Operating System, but if Win2k or Win XP -- Use PerfMon

It's free, it's accurate and would be able to tell you exactly what you need to know.

There's an especially good article on bandwidth tuning at:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/techinfo/reskit/en-us/iisbook/c05_network_specifics_%28data_transmission_rates%2C_file_transfers%2C_tcp_connections%29.htm

IF you go to:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/server/
and perform a search for "Perfmon Bandwidth" you'll get a whole list of how-to articles on using Perfmon to monitor bandwidth and other performance tuning.

IF your ping response times are within reason (verified from BOTH sides of the router), then for what you want -- you needn't be concerned with the router.

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