Measuring network and bandwith consumption on network. Help!

[lawtonfogle]

Ok, I share a network with ~= 128 other people. We share a 100Mb/s connection between computers on the network, and have a 10Mb/s connection to the internet. Recently, about once every 15 minutes, for a time period of 5 or more minutes, the internet lags such that I cannot even log onto google. I am wanting to know if their is a way to measure overall usage of the internet, or better yet, what each person is using. Many of those I have talked to say they think it is a group (or a single person) of people downloading and torrenting.

Thanks in advance.

 

[tlarkin]

Auditing a network can be tricky, and very pricey using certain hardware/software. For $5,000 you can buy a fluke network analyzer that will generate reports of every ip, mac address, network app, router, network printer, server, dns, etc.

That is just outrageous, I know....

I would recomend looking into one of the live Linux distros which come with a plethora of individual tools that help one audit a network. Particularly in your case bandwidth monitors seem to be what you want.

try something like this

http://www.remote-exploit.org/index.php/BackTrack

However, I must warn you, this software has the ability to crack security, but it is published under the idea that one would use it to audit a network one has built. If you use this software in a wrong manner it could easily cost you your job, and legal action even further beyond that. So, I would get with your network administrator before proceeding.

 

[Trizoy]

I don't think you should have posted that link. Maybe a referral by name. Please don't post something that could cost someone their job...

 

[tlarkin]

I am not making him use it, and if I mentioned it by name all it takes is google. It is a handy tool to have, but you must not abuse what it can do unless you are suppose to.

there are many packages like the one I linked, and I gave him fair warning the reprecussions if used in a negative way. I mean its obvious to me if you start hacking your own work place's network you are going to get in trouble. Is that not obvious to everyone here?