Need some home network advice!

[darkwinter]

Hi everyone, I was hoping to get some help with a home network issue.

I'm living at home with my family who are constantly downloading a lot of stuff and using alot of bandwidth, making my online gaming a little difficult!

Can anyone make any software recommendations that will moniter bandwidth each user/pc is using so you can tell who to stop downloading!!

(sorry if this is impossible, just thought I'd try asking)

[tokenuser]

Hi everyone, I was hoping to get some help with a home network issue.

I'm living at home with my family who are constantly downloading a lot of stuff and using alot of bandwidth, making my online gaming a little difficult!

Can anyone make any software recommendations that will moniter bandwidth each user/pc is using so you can tell who to stop downloading!!

(sorry if this is impossible, just thought I'd try asking)Better to set up a QoS rule that puts your network traffic at a higher priority, AND set up port forwarding so that the game traffic is going directly to the IP address.

[fishtoprecords]

Or upgrade to an OC3 connection

[tehboris]

set up port forwarding so that the game traffic is going directly to the IP address.

What do you mean by this?

[davmoo]

What do you mean by this?

There's usually an option that says "port forwarding" in the setup screens for any decent router. What you do is give the router settings that tell it "Anything that comes in on port 666, send it to the machine in sis's bedroom." The router then doesn't waste time deciding if it needs to do anything else with it, it just fires it on over to that machine's node.

[tehboris]

I am aware of what port forwarding on a NAT router is and does.

It just didn't make sense in that context, which I actually removed from in the quotation. Unless you are providing a service (such as a game server) forwarding ports should not be necessary (unless the client was really badly written).

[trunolimit]

In oreder to help we need to know what router ( or routers) you are using. my dir 655 has QOS via ports (known as layer 4 QOS) most routers prioritize traffic via physically connected ports. ex comp connected to port 1 will get priority over ports 2 and 3. This works well on my wrt54gs (flashed with dd-wrt v24).

As far as a software solution It wouldn't help. y u ask? let me explain
There could be a program out there that will prioritize the traffic going out (by the way all QOS is outbound, as you do some research you'll see why I just saved you a couple hours of reading through forums) the problem is once it gets to the router the router won't care what the PC did it will route traffic as it always does. This is why QOS is never applied to the end device. Oh an QOS means quality of service (for completeness sake)

Now what you can do is go to that persons comp and change the max up and down bandwidth to 75% of what there fastest download and upload speeds are. This varies from client software to client software. And I am not aware of a way to lock the settings so the user can't just go in an change them back. Doing this will significantly free up your bandwidth and it will add 25% more time to their download witch really isn't to much.

now if your feeling really compelled there is another option but I warn you this is very advanced stuff. If you have a spare computer and some extra NICs (network interface cards) you can actually build a router. I've been meaning to do this but I don't currently have a spare PC. there is a software that will install a routing OS and give you so much control over your traffic it'll make your innergeek tingle. What you can do is install a couple NICs (one per needed Ethernet link) and plug your modem and PC's into it or you can install 2 NICs and place it between your modem and a switch (i do not recommend you place it between your current router and modem because there are a mountain of issues that can occur from daisy chaining routers especially different branded routers. unless you are using it as a standalone firewall<--really bad ass if you do)

anyway hope this helps and here is the link to the routing os thing

http://www.pfsense.org/

[tokenuser]

I am aware of what port forwarding on a NAT router is and does.

It just didn't make sense in that context, which I actually removed from in the quotation. Unless you are providing a service (such as a game server) forwarding ports should not be necessary (unless the client was really badly written).It makes perfect sense. By providing a point to point connection from the router to the PC/console via port forwarding, the inbound content is not broadcast over the entire network looking for a computer to respond to the inbound packet. This reduces a level of chattiness on the LAN side of the network and ensures a more rapid response time.

You will never guarantee that a client is written to behave well, and even if it is, port forwarding will result in fast packet resolution times.

[trunolimit]

It makes perfect sense. By providing a point to point connection from the router to the PC/console via port forwarding, the inbound content is not broadcast over the entire network looking for a computer to respond to the inbound packet. This reduces a level of chattiness on the LAN side of the network and ensures a more rapid response time.

You will never guarantee that a client is written to behave well, and even if it is, port forwarding will result in fast packet resolution times.

you know port forwarding is something I've been wondering about for a while. The return path for packets is randomly generated (source port on outgoing, destination port on incoming) so I've always wondered how do you know what ports to set where? I get how it works for VOIP to get around the NAT/PAT problem but torrents is another thing. I just enable the upnp

And reducing the CPU usage is a good way to speed things up on the LAN I doubt a home network can generate enough traffic to strain today's routers.

[tehboris]

It makes perfect sense. By providing a point to point connection from the router to the PC/console via port forwarding, the inbound content is not broadcast over the entire network looking for a computer to respond to the inbound packet. This reduces a level of chattiness on the LAN side of the network and ensures a more rapid response time.

you know port forwarding is something I've been wondering about for a while. The return path for packets is randomly generated (source port on outgoing, destination port on incoming) so I've always wondered how do you know what ports to set where? I get how it works for VOIP to get around the NAT/PAT problem but torrents is another thing. I just enable the upnp

I like how your two posts contradict each other with out making the logical link of, if the source port is been randomly generated, how do you know which port to forward.

The truth is, when the game client connects it will choose a random source port. Then when the packet hits the NAT router the router will choose another source port at random actively avoiding picking a port in it's port forwarding rules. The NAT router remembers the source port and destination IP addresses and uses this information to remember which IP addresses and source port on the LAN that package came from and needs to be delivered back to.

[tokenuser]

I like how your two posts contradict each other with out making the logical link of, if the source port is been randomly generated, how do you know which port to forward.

The truth is, when the game client connects it will choose a random source port. Then when the packet hits the NAT router the router will choose another source port at random actively avoiding picking a port in it's port forwarding rules. The NAT router remembers the source port and destination IP addresses and uses this information to remember which IP addresses and source port on the LAN that package came from and needs to be delivered back to.You forward port RANGES. It is not a 1-1 port mapping.

For example, here are the ports RECOMMENDED BY SONY that you forward for optimal performance on a PS3 ...

For all PLAYSTATION(R)3 format software titles published by Sony Computer Entertainment America
(SCEA):

TCP Ports: 10070 - 10080
UDP Ports: 10070

In addition, please note these additional ports for the following titles:

SOCOM I,II,III:
TCP Ports: 10070 - 10080
UDP Ports: 10070, 50000
Voice Chat: UDP 6000-7000, 10070 (for headset operation)

Frequency
TCP Ports: 10070 - 10080
UDP Ports: 10070
Allow incoming ICMP Echo Reply

*Note: Please make sure to enable these TCP/UDP ports in BOTH directions.

That is for a console gaming platform, but the same applies for desktop games and other consoles.

In the past I needed to forward specific ports for a VoIP phone (MCK Extender - corporate VoIP, not a "home" based product). If I didn't then the MCK would swamp my network with broadcast traffic.

Port forwarding works. You just need to understand how it works.

[trunolimit]

You forward port RANGES. It is not a 1-1 port mapping.

For example, here are the ports RECOMMENDED BY SONY that you forward for optimal performance on a PS3 ...



That is for a console gaming platform, but the same applies for desktop games and other consoles.

In the past I needed to forward specific ports for a VoIP phone (MCK Extender - corporate VoIP, not a "home" based product). If I didn't then the MCK would swamp my network with broadcast traffic.

Port forwarding works. You just need to understand how it works.

hey tokenuser you seem to know a lot about networking is there some list somewhere or a registry entry where I can find out what programs use what range of source port? and any tips on how I should set up my QOS here is a screen shot of what options I have.
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c42/trunolimit/qosconfig.jpg

I'd like to limit the effect p2ps have on my network. The settings I have now seem to work fine because If I take them off my surfing goes down to a crawl when others torrent it up. When I activate it my surfing gets a 100 times better. I just randomly chose 200 so I feel there probably is a better, more efficient way of doing this. Also when I pick other for the protocol option it wants a numeric input , are protocols numbered ? like is udp = 1 tcp = 2 ...ect? if so how can I find what number pertains to what protocol?

[tehboris]

hey tokenuser you seem to know a lot about networking is there some list somewhere or a registry entry where I can find out what programs use what range of source port? and any tips on how I should set up my QOS here is a screen shot of what options I have.

I'd like to limit the effect p2ps have on my network. The settings I have now seem to work fine because If I take them off my surfing goes down to a crawl when others torrent it up. When I activate it my surfing gets a 100 times better. I just randomly chose 200 so I feel there probably is a better, more efficient way of doing this. Also when I pick other for the protocol option it wants a numeric input , are protocols numbered ? like is udp = 1 tcp = 2 ...ect? if so how can I find what number pertains to what protocol?

The source port for any client changes all the time. Only the destination port is known.

[trunolimit]

The source port for any client changes all the time. Only the destination port is known.

so there is no set ranges for source port? I watched my local traffic using wireshark and I notice when I downloaded a file from pc to pc the source port stayed in the 1000 region. what ever, screw layer 4, its all about layer 3 baby...... subnetting = Happy times.

[phil-mize]

lol i think you guys may be over geeking him...

look easiest thing u can do to fix your problem is spend $65 and go to Geeks.com (http://http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=WRT54G-DT&cat=NET) and get the Linksys wrt54g router.

I bought mine about 6 months ago and the new firmware on it allows port forwarding so theres no need for flashing the firmware or anything. I think my firmware version is like 1.6 er something like that I'm at work so i can't check.

then go to OpenDNS.com (http://www.opendns.com/) and sign up they have a great tutorial on how to set everything up for re routing ur dns and identifying the different ip address's from all the pcs in your household. Once your done making your account there u go.

Not only are u cool cause ull be using open dns, u can monitor your bandwidth usage and all sorts of other goodies as well. And your new router can be used for bandwidth allocation. You prob just bought the most used and favorite router available. Theres bajillions of online hacks/tutorials about making the router into something amazing. I personally like the stock firmware just fine cause i have no need for all that crazy stuffs.

[trunolimit]

lol i think you guys may be over geeking him...

look easiest thing u can do to fix your problem is spend $65 and go to Geeks.com (http://http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=WRT54G-DT&cat=NET) and get the Linksys wrt54g router.

I bought mine about 6 months ago and the new firmware on it allows port forwarding so theres no need for flashing the firmware or anything. I think my firmware version is like 1.6 er something like that I'm at work so i can't check.

then go to OpenDNS.com (http://www.opendns.com/) and sign up they have a great tutorial on how to set everything up for re routing ur dns and identifying the different ip address's from all the pcs in your household. Once your done making your account there u go.

Not only are u cool cause ull be using open dns, u can monitor your bandwidth usage and all sorts of other goodies as well. And your new router can be used for bandwidth allocation. You prob just bought the most used and favorite router available. Theres bajillions of online hacks/tutorials about making the router into something amazing. I personally like the stock firmware just fine cause i have no need for all that crazy stuffs.

why not get the wrt54GL and solder a 512mb flash stick to it then flash it with dd-wrt voip and be a slave no longer to the cable companies over priced voip service.

[fishtoprecords]

why not get the wrt54GL and solder a 512mb flash stick to it then flash it with dd-wrt voip and be a slave no longer to the cable companies over priced voip service.

Yes, a wrt54GL (the last L is important) is a wonderful box.
dd-wrt, tomato, these are great solutions.

[tokenuser]

I personally like the stock firmware just fine cause i have no need for all that crazy stuffs.I made a similar post in another thread about this exact same thing. I was really happy with the manufacturer default firmware (Linksys WRT54GS v4).

Then I got my PS3. And the signal strength from my neighbors was stronger than that of my own router. Until I could get a cable run to the PS3 (to be completed this weekend), I needed to bump up my signal strength ... so I installed Tomato.

Works nicely. Signal strength great. Firmware upgrade did not overwrite my existing config settings (very happy about that).