Looking for a router to track down user's usage

I am in the market for a router that can reveal the usage of a user or controlling the number of packets being sent to the user. Basically, I have this dude who we have to share our internet with and he downloads a lot of stuff causing my internet to slow down during the evening. My internet only gives me about 60GB/month so I don't want to go over it. So yea, I guess you get my point.

 

Most routers allow you to control bandwidth. You can even control when a particular user can access the network. You can use QoS to give "the dude" a very low priority. However, to limit bandwidth I think you'll need a business class router, or you'd need to put a server in the mix and let the sever assign IP addresses - the server would control bandwidth (if I recall correctly).

 

Didn't even know they have such a thing as viewing what people do on your internet, but yes you can control bandwidth

 

DD-WRT. Its awesome like that.

 

Use WRT54GL with DD-WRT.

 

My SMB Class Netgear FVS338 8port VPN router has that kind of control. It comes with a 5 user liesen enduser. But not your residential router with all of its features it's a very nice unit. I use the VPN to connect to my router when I'm away from home. The VPN connection to the router gives you full access to all hardware as you were sitting next to it.

You also have QoS, firewall rules this can be set per group or IP, inbound as well as outbound. QoS can limit any IP or group, depending on how it is setup.

Download the manual for more detail. This is a 8 port VPN Endpoint router (wired only). You can turn your wireless router into AP for your wireless.

 

get a linksys router with tomato firmware and then put tomato firmware on it. Grab a standalone server(any little PC will work) install RRDtool and get pretty results like this

 

Linkysys with DD-WRT firmware

Put a WAN QoS to 512kbps or whatever speed you want to give other users (this is for all connections)

Then put your MAC address under "exempt" so you get no restrictions.

 

Unless I'm mistaken, the DD-WRT can track usage, and it can throttle bandwidth, but it can't be used to set a max limit on a MAC/IP address. Is that correct?

 

You cant limit the download size, but you can limit the speed.

You can only set a global QoS bandwidth. Thats why you have to put yourself under exempt so you dont fall under the QoS. I put my whole family under 512kbps except for me.

Its not very flexible but it works fine for most scenarios

 

The DIR-655 comes with QoS and can throttle bandwidth, so I'm going to guess that most new routers can do the same thing. If my guess is correct, then people who want to control bandwidth aren't limited to Linksys and DD-WRT anymore.

To the OP: talk to the guy and explain the 60GB per month limit, and ask him to stop downloading quite so much data. If you have a few people that each contribute the same amount for the ISP bill, then ask each person to limit downloading to the same amount. For example, three people split the bill, so each person gets 20GB per month. That's the cheapest way to limit internet usage - have each person install a packet tracking tool, and configure it to stop at 20GB (or whatever limit you agree upon).