LAN monitor. How can I tell if users are using Torrents etc?

Hi guys. I'm running a LAN for a small company. I need to know why
our broadband speed is being brought to its knees most afternoons, and
I wondered if there were any tools available that would show this?
Especially toosl that might be able to show if people are using
bittorrents?

I'd really like to block the use of torrents, but I am using a basic
BT Business Broadband hub and I don't think it's possible. Is there
any way?

Any help or ideas would be great. Thanks

Paul

The problem is that the connection destination is only reported by the
firewall when the connection is established and when it ends. The "in
between" period during the transfer is not shown. This is true of any
firewall.

Even with expensive firewalls the reporting is often minmal. That is why
there are usually other companies that write software to do this that can be
added to the firewall as an add-on or run as a separate device "along the
way" in the path.

Using MS ISA Server (soon to be called MS TMG [Threat Management Gateway])
as an example of other companies building add-ons for it.

Microsoft Internet Security & Acceleration Server: Partners
http://www.microsoft.com/isaserver/p...s/default.mspx
....then look at the "Reporting" link.

Cost wise ISA is around $1200.00 to $1800.00 plus the cost of the hardware.
There are no ongoing subscription costs or service contract costs. There
are no extra costs for extra features because ISA already comes packaged
with everything that it is capable of doing as MS built it. The other
add-ons come from other companies.

--
Phillip Windell
www.wandtv.com

The views expressed, are my own and not those of my employer, or Microsoft,
or anyone else associated with me, including my cats.
-----------------------------------------------------
Technet Library
ISA2004
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/l...chNet.10).aspx
ISA2006
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/l...chNet.10).aspx

Understanding the ISA 2004 Access Rule Processing
http://www.isaserver.org/articles/IS...cessRules.html

Troubleshooting Client Authentication on Access Rules in ISA Server 2004
http://download.microsoft.com/downlo...7/ts_rules.doc

Microsoft Internet Security & Acceleration Server: Partners
http://www.microsoft.com/isaserver/p...s/default.mspx

Microsoft ISA Server Partners: Partner Hardware Solutions
http://www.microsoft.com/forefront/e...epartners.mspx
-----------------------------------------------------


"Paul" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:a64a99b9-d946-42ca-b4a2-(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hi guys. I'm running a LAN for a small company. I need to know why
> our broadband speed is being brought to its knees most afternoons, and
> I wondered if there were any tools available that would show this?
> Especially toosl that might be able to show if people are using
> bittorrents?
>
> I'd really like to block the use of torrents, but I am using a basic
> BT Business Broadband hub and I don't think it's possible. Is there
> any way?
>
> Any help or ideas would be great. Thanks
>
> Paul

Hi Paul,
How many computers are you talking about anyway?
Are they all Vista Business or a mix and match colllection
of computers?
I am guessing it is all setup as workgroup networking?



"Paul" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:a64a99b9-d946-42ca-b4a2-(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hi guys. I'm running a LAN for a small company. I need to know why
> our broadband speed is being brought to its knees most afternoons, and
> I wondered if there were any tools available that would show this?
> Especially toosl that might be able to show if people are using
> bittorrents?
>
> I'd really like to block the use of torrents, but I am using a basic
> BT Business Broadband hub and I don't think it's possible. Is there
> any way?
>
> Any help or ideas would be great. Thanks
>
> Paul

Hi there - Thanks for all your help.

The network is just a selection of XP and mac's running on a small
domain server using windows server 2003.

I'm just wondering if there's a way to simply block torrents??

It may seem over simplistic,...but the best solutions are sometimes very
simple. I.T. People tend to want to over-complicate things with
"technology".

1. You walk to each machine (it's a small network after all)
2. look at the machines in "Add/Remove Programs".
3. Uninstall what should not be there. Maybe keep a list of "bad boys" that
you had to remove stuff from their machines, along with what you had to
remove.
4. Remove users from the Local Administrator's Group so they can't install
stuff they aren't supposed to.
5. If management is not willing to put an "Acceptable Use Policy" in place
for the machines (and then enforce it),...then you are just
screwed,...forget it, go home, take it easy, relax, war's over,..you lost.

--
Phillip Windell
www.wandtv.com

The views expressed, are my own and not those of my employer, or Microsoft,
or anyone else associated with me, including my cats.
-----------------------------------------------------

"Paul" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:b09eb8a5-a06b-4ce8-ae28-(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hi there - Thanks for all your help.
>
> The network is just a selection of XP and mac's running on a small
> domain server using windows server 2003.
>
> I'm just wondering if there's a way to simply block torrents??