Linux & BandwidthD
Let me explain my network a little bit before coming to the problem.
I have a Windows Network with only one Linux machine running Red Hat Enterprise 5 and Squid 3.0 serving as a proxy server and gateway to the Internet. I have a Fiber Optic link terminated at a Cisco 1841. The router has a real IP and is connected to Linux box through a cross over cable. There is a second NIC on Linux box which has a local IP and is facing my local network. I am running PRTG on a Windows machine to monitor bandwidth coming from ISP by listening to router’s real IP. I am also running bandwidthD on Linux box to monitor bandwidth usage.
In this scenario, none of my local computer can bypass Linux box to access the Internet directly. Every one has to go through Linux. BandwidthD is recording every single computer’s access and puts it on its charts.
I have my own Mail Server running Mdaemon on a local IP. The NAT is done through IPTables on Linux.
Now the probem:
Many times our Internet becomes deadly slow. When we check PRTG, it shows that we are utilizing 100% of our available bandwidth while bandwidthD doesn’t show any computer consuming that bandwidth. It’s a real mystry for me because I – technically – think that none of the computer can bypass the proxy server (or Linux- to be more precise). Then where in the world that bandwidth is going?
Another issue is that sometimes bandwidthD shows that either Mail Server or Proxy itself sends Gigs of data out. I am wondering is this a normal behaviour?
I am really feeling helpless at the moment because I’m not familiar with packet sniffing etc and one of my friend says that it’s the only option to find out what’s going on. Please advise.
Thanks.
Imran
I have a Windows Network with only one Linux machine running Red Hat Enterprise 5 and Squid 3.0 serving as a proxy server and gateway to the Internet. I have a Fiber Optic link terminated at a Cisco 1841. The router has a real IP and is connected to Linux box through a cross over cable. There is a second NIC on Linux box which has a local IP and is facing my local network. I am running PRTG on a Windows machine to monitor bandwidth coming from ISP by listening to router’s real IP. I am also running bandwidthD on Linux box to monitor bandwidth usage.
In this scenario, none of my local computer can bypass Linux box to access the Internet directly. Every one has to go through Linux. BandwidthD is recording every single computer’s access and puts it on its charts.
I have my own Mail Server running Mdaemon on a local IP. The NAT is done through IPTables on Linux.
Now the probem:
Many times our Internet becomes deadly slow. When we check PRTG, it shows that we are utilizing 100% of our available bandwidth while bandwidthD doesn’t show any computer consuming that bandwidth. It’s a real mystry for me because I – technically – think that none of the computer can bypass the proxy server (or Linux- to be more precise). Then where in the world that bandwidth is going?
Another issue is that sometimes bandwidthD shows that either Mail Server or Proxy itself sends Gigs of data out. I am wondering is this a normal behaviour?
I am really feeling helpless at the moment because I’m not familiar with packet sniffing etc and one of my friend says that it’s the only option to find out what’s going on. Please advise.
Thanks.
Imran
I don't have an answer for you. Only think if you're going to get into packet analysis here's a good way to start. It's a book named "Practical Packet Analysis" at http://nostarch.com/packet.htm
ASKER
Thanks a lot bz43.
I will look into it.
Imran
I will look into it.
Imran
ASKER
Thank you pablomoralis for your suggestion.
I think there's some kind of software which is keeping bandwidthD from logging it's activity.
Thanks.
Imran
I think there's some kind of software which is keeping bandwidthD from logging it's activity.
Thanks.
Imran
Bandwidthd seems kind of limited to me. Try ntop it is able to give more specific information. Also It seems you are not the only person with a problem regarding regarding traffic counts:
http://sourceforge.net/projects/bandwidthd/forums/forum/308609/topic/3895818
I think that to do packet analysis is overkill. However you could use wireshark's statistics functions to validate your bandwidthd counts.
http://sourceforge.net/projects/bandwidthd/forums/forum/308609/topic/3895818
I think that to do packet analysis is overkill. However you could use wireshark's statistics functions to validate your bandwidthd counts.
ASKER
Thank you guys. It's really helpful to have friends like you around.
I will install nTop as soon as I can and let you guys know the results.
Thanks once again for your help and support.
Imran
I will install nTop as soon as I can and let you guys know the results.
Thanks once again for your help and support.
Imran
Use 'iftop' for a realtime diagnostic of what's passing through your interfaces. You could need to add the RPMforge repo to install it.
I used bandwidthd for a while but found it was inaccurate and preferred vnstat. Perhaps run the two in conjunction to make sure bandwidthd is giving the correct stats. While vnstat doesn't show client usage, only totals, you shoudl be able to get totals through things such as proxy and mail logs unless you have a need for users to access the internet directly.
I used bandwidthd for a while but found it was inaccurate and preferred vnstat. Perhaps run the two in conjunction to make sure bandwidthd is giving the correct stats. While vnstat doesn't show client usage, only totals, you shoudl be able to get totals through things such as proxy and mail logs unless you have a need for users to access the internet directly.
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ASKER
nTop as suggested by many experts, didn't work well.
My own search on the Internet and personal help from a friend led to IPTraf which worked better and helped me solve the problem.
My own search on the Internet and personal help from a friend led to IPTraf which worked better and helped me solve the problem.
Try installing ntop on the Linux machine. Ntop will monitor the usage by protocol and IP address and tell you where the bandwidth is going.
Happy hunting.