KWSN Orbiting Fortress

A Shrubbery · Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2007 2:51 pm Post subject: LAN Bandwidth

OK, I havn't resorted to you lot yet, so here's a go.

On my home network, I want to severely throttle another user in my household as their pr0n surfing is impacting my gaming.

Is there a cheap effective way to do this?

Everyone else in the household is a computer idiot, so I have no worry about it being overridden.
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Mildew · Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2007 3:16 pm Post subject:

If I had a problem with a household member whose constant gaming was affecting my pr0n surfing, I'd kick him square in the nuts! Mad

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KWSN - Sir Brian C....... · Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2007 4:27 pm Post subject: Re: LAN Bandwidth

JerWA · Prince Joined: 01 Jan 2007 Posts: 1497 Location: WA, USA

Using something like NetLimiter (runs on the PC in question) would work, but the software isn't free, nor is it 100% effective. It _will_ shape traffic, you just can't be 100% accurate with it. For instance, you could set the over-all limit to bandwidth usage to 40 kb/s and it would try to maintain that, but you'd still see spikes much higher while the program is trying to throttle the other programs.

QoS (Quality of Service) would also work, but requires that your router supports it. Probably the cheapest way to do that, assuming that your current router doesn't have it, is to get a used Linksys WRT54G or GS, with the hardware version 1 through 4. Then, using something like HyperWRT and Thibor, you gain full management capabilities, and a greatly expanded QoS configuration. The problem, of course, is finding one for sale that confirms which hardware revision it is. The newer revisions, 5 through 7, have reduced hardware so it is no longer possible to run the full 3rd party bios in them (though there are "mini" versions for some that will work). It just seems silly to buy a newer one, for more money, with less capability.

Here's a screenshot of Thibors QoS (from one of my routers hehe):

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A Shrubbery · Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2007 5:15 pm Post subject:

I have the Linksys router but it's a v 5.0

I've set the priority to low but it doesn't seem to be doing anything. There is a software app I was looking at, but figured I'd run the gauntlet here first and see if anyone had any (useful) ideas.
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A Shrubbery · Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2007 5:19 pm Post subject: Re: LAN Bandwidth

Eaving · Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2007 10:49 pm Post subject:

You could be a truly evil bastard and go to the 'access restrictions' section of the linksys router. There is a website blocking by keyword. I seriously doubt you could in any way knock out all porn sites but you could certainly make things harder on him/her Smile

.
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JerWA · Prince Joined: 01 Jan 2007 Posts: 1497 Location: WA, USA

I'm not sure how much the stock one will do, will it let you prioritize MAC addresses or ports? That's what you need, really, rather than application based (because it's probably all HTTP, which would not help you any as you'd both get equal priority using HTTP).

The first thing to note is that the built-in switch is awful, and will flood itself out on a regular basis (meaning you may not even be out of bandwidth, just the switch isn't doing it's job well and you're lagging between ports). The first thing I did was drop a switch in front of the router so that it would stop flooding. That alone made a noticeable difference when other people try to get out to the network.

Made a new screen shot to show you what I mean:

It's also of note that the "auto" speed detection may not be very reliable, and that renders QoS totally useless. Unplug everyone but you, and run this speed test:
http://www.speedtest.net/

Then put the results into the speed setting on QoS (it says Kbps so it's probably wanting the long number, like 896 instead of 80 kb/s). Then plug everyone back in hehe.

Edit: Oh, and make sure the QoS scheduler is setup on that PC. It's in TCP/IP properties, and should be on by default. It should help the router do QoS properly, by responding to throttle and squelch commands.

And here's my current network: (the bottom router is a WRT54GS v4)

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A Shrubbery · Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2007 1:36 am Post subject:

QoS may not be installed on the system I'm trying to tame, which would explain why my settings weren't having any effect.

I tried to get ahold of the damn thing by saying "I need to look at your computer", which of course resulted in the blank moose stare and "I don't understand what you mean".

OK, how much more clear could I make this?

Anyway, I'll get ahold of that thing and make sure QoS is on there. Most likely that will solve the whole issue.
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Eaving · Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2007 2:11 am Post subject:

On the more direct front how are your computers sharing the network? Are you able to access his drives over the net or are you purely sharing the same net connection through the router? If you're able to access his hard drive have you considered deleting a few strategic files and then not having time to fix it for him? If he's as computer illiterate as you imply it would probably never occur to him that you've done him in if you weren't even in the room.
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jonnyv · Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2007 11:06 am Post subject:

On a similar note, does anyone know of a good way to monitor a small lan? Ideally, I'd like to know which hosts are sucking up all the bandwidth, and if it can tell me how they're sucking it up (streaming music, youtube videos, etc), that'd be even better.
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mohrorless · Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2007 11:39 am Post subject:

Has it ever occurred to you to just unplug his LAN connection?

If he is dumber then a moose (would that be a Majestic Sweedish Moose?), he might not realize what the problem is and you can BS him about it so you can get on to his pc and install anything you want on it ( Twisted Evil

) - while you are "fixing the problem".

Make him shrub for us without his realizing it!
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A Shrubbery · Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2007 11:54 am Post subject:

Let me see if I can answer all these post without resorting to actually reading them.

Yes, he is shrubbing for us.

I have access to the root of his C: drive, but deleting files would only bring about more standard illiterate computer questions. I get enough of those at work, I don't want more at home.

Same goes for unplugging the lan, which I can also do.

I don't know Johnny, other than the tools that are built into Windows. They're excellent at monitoring usage, but I don't think it will tell you what type. Instructions here.

I'll get my hands on the system and handle what I need to. Quite frankly I could format the hard drive right in front of him and he wouldn't know any better. But then I'd have to answer more end user type questions.

Just frustrated, thank you all for letting me vent. Sometimes only other computer people can relate.
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A Shrubbery for Prez. Let's put more bushes in the whitehouse.

KWSN - A Shrubbery
Shrubbing since 2000 for the KaNI!ghts.

Cohiba · Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2007 12:30 pm Post subject:

Sir Papa Smurph · Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2007 8:15 pm Post subject:

all of the tech answers aside. Why don't you just ask him nicely and tell him that all computers only get so much bandwith ( Like the fatalistic view of life, you only get so many days...) and then if he doesn't comply then run MJ 12 and tell him that the connection is slow because he has used his comps life up. You can set MJ-12 up to run only at the times that he is home and online, and since it is on your comp, you can shut it down when you want.... Twisted Evil

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mohrorless · Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2007 9:35 pm Post subject:

jonnyv · Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2007 10:41 pm Post subject:

Grizzly · Posted: Thu Feb 22, 2007 3:30 am Post subject:

Put a REALLY slow lan card in there ?

Tie a knot in his cable ?

Buy an expensive fully controlable Router/Switch Rolling Eyes

Let me know of your solution when you achieve yer admirable ends

Regds Grizz .
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JerWA · Prince Joined: 01 Jan 2007 Posts: 1497 Location: WA, USA

The problem is that even the slowest Ethernet LAN card (10mb) is still plenty to destroy your Internet connection. Knotting the cable might work, if you tie it tightly enough it will kink and break. Or if you use really crappy unshielded wire, tying it in a knot may cause enough crosstalk to take it offline too. Unlikely, but it's the thought that counts.
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Grizzly · Posted: Thu Feb 22, 2007 4:49 am Post subject:

Time to dig out that old 486SX from the cellar/loft/garage/rubbih tip and instal any OS and configure it as a dedicated Router .
Not sure of the proggies that do this now - but will search (Linux do do some , but I am not a Linux user Embarassed

)

This would be the cheapest option methinks !!

Regds Grizz
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Oh Bugger Forgot again - or is it Oh Father Reboot again ?

Ps Grizz in his second childhood - but not his last !

Edihtor of the KoKC (excused spel;l checher'er)

AND NI !!! Tophat 10e

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