SoftPerfect Bandwidth Manager install and config

SoftPerfect Bandwidth Manager sounds cool for me. I just new to network but want to manage network in order to get business running most stable as possible.

just wondering if SoftPerfect Bandwidth Manager can be used to manage leased line bandwidth between 2 sites of my company or it can manages just internet usage.

I have read through details and see a picture demonstrates how to install SoftPerfect Bandwidth Manager system.
1. I don't know to what device should the bandwidth manager be installed.
2. and what about the hub and router?. to which device do i put them or how to network the system????

thanks

You can install it two different ways:

On a PC between the clients and the leased line (it will only control bandwidth of users traffic crossing this PC). There's multiple ways of doing this, such as bridging (morepopular), routing, or ICS (Internet connection sharing).

Or on each individual PC (it controls the bandwidth at the client PC).

But you really need a good working knowledge of TCP/IP to some degree, and already familiar with your setup, LAN IP addresses, segments/masks/routes between each site and how also the Internet is shared, multiple public IP's or private IP's with NAT etc...

The answer to your question can only be as detailed as the information you provide.


Gavin.

Wow.. thanks for your reply.. i slightly get the idea but still need help.

I have attached my network picture [network diagram image]
I would like to control each workstations leased line BW usage.
I would like to install "On a PC between the clients and the leased line (it will only control bandwidth of users traffic crossing this PC)." as you recommended.

I think I would try BRIDGING method.
the problem is
1. How do i network that?
2. what do i need? do i need any additional device?
3. does the PC to which BW manager will be installed need any special software or hardware?
4. How others user traffic cross such PC?

Please help me a bit more.

Thank you very much

Kawin

Basically you would just need a PC with two NICs plugged between the hub and the router. This PC needs to have installed Windows and the Bandwidth Manager software.

Once you have bridged the NICs in the Bandwidth Manager installed on that PC, it will start forwarding traffic between the hub and the router transparently.

No IP configuration on the NICs in the bridge is necessary. As soon as you get this working, you can start creating bandwidth management rules.

Hope this helps.

Thanks you Andrew,

Do u mean putting 2 network cards into the bridging PC right?

Then after I insert 2 LAN cards into that PC. How do i config to make it bridge between HUB and the router?

Please don't be annoyed by my stupid. I really don't know and so weak about networking.

Thanks to all helps

Hello, I think I should put my new diagram for you guys to see whether I understand correctly.
Does my new diagram show what Andrew suggest?
[image]

Now I have put 2 Lan cards into the PC.
The next big thing is how do I config the PC to make the bridge so that the hub and router can communicate through this PC?

Thanks a lot for helps

Open BWM, go to "tools" on the menu bar. Then select "bridging" and choose the two adapters you wish to bridge.

Cool!!!! Now I got the whole idea. Thank you so much everyone.

May I ask one last question

My network current set up as domain.
For the bridging PC, Do I have to config anything for it such as IP address, firewall, joining domain or any special configuration?

Thanks thanks thanks a lot

No, it's all optional. If you don't provide IP addresses, domain and other info the bridge will work normally, however the bridging computer itself won't be a member of the network.

Hi, everyone guess what!! I got it to work now...big thanks for all helps.
but
I have one lastttt question.
How come the incoming and outgoing bytes are exactly the same amount all the time which is strange. please see the picture below
[image]

Normally, the incoming and outgoing should have some different, shouldn't it?
for example I tested copy file from site2 server but both incoming and outgoing bandwidth are exactly the same amount. Why is that?
do i config anything wrong?

please advice.

Thank you for all helps.

Ahhh this is quite a common mistake when new to BWM.

That's because you have your rule set to "any interface", so it's catching the same traffic coming in on one interface, going out on another in the same rule.

Try changing your rule to apply to one interface only, such as the Interface facing the LAN.

Or if you are not using a BWM machine at each end of the leased line, then set the rule interface to the leased line ethernet Interface so you can control only traffic that goes through the leased line side etc...

my god!!!! everything works like a charm now!!!!
Thank you so much for explanation. you guys helps are really helpful and so descriptive.

Best regards,
Kawin

Glad to hear it's working

Just be careful that if you reboot your computer, sometimes the interface may change back to any interface by its self if using a 'beta' with some systems.

Cheers,
Gavin.

Thank you for additional info.

May I ask just one last question....

I notice that even when the users doesn't send anything out, there is some tiny bytes being transferred all the time as shown in the blue in the picture. but not much just around 2-5 KB all the times.
[image]

Is this common for all network?

or

Is this cause by BWM itself???

or
has my network got some strange things like backdoor or anything?

My network got a mail server running. Do you thing the bytes caused by some service between mail server and clients. Or is there any thing that could cause this???

Or is this the common thing happens on all networks??

I think I have asked the question which is not related to BWM. Sorry for that but you guys seem to know everything about bandwidth and networking and been giving me such big helps.
please help me once more.

Best regards,

Kawin

Not sure.

You'd have to track the traffic down and find out exactly what it is, where it's coming from or going to.

What computer is the blue line or the "15" rule? It looks like its associated with that filter/machine. Remember bandwidth manager also uses traffic, perhaps it's the BWM gui being updated when you click on the rules and stats etc...?

It could be a whole range of things though, guessing wouldn't answer your question.

Most of my network sits idle. The only continuous traffic I have is from a pfsense firewall which monitors gateways attached to it every second or so - which generates a lot of tiny traffic on a few ports.

The other smaller traffic I have is SIP updates from VoIP phones, antivirus update checks.. and RSS news updates on idle browsers etc...

Uusually if you had a worm or virus the network would go nuts and you'd see a lot of traffic.