Pc Based Router / Firewall / Whatever

[Crossy]

I'm sure this is easy and I'm simply not looking at the right products.

I need a cheap (read free, although a small fee would be fine) router application, I've got a number of PCs / NICs etc. knocking around so hardware will not be an issue.

We have a limited bandwidth connection, which (if it's allowed to) my P2P client will happily fill to the detriment of other sevices, Web browsing, Skype, BBC radio etc.

What I'd like to do is selectively and automatically throttle the P2P whenever something more important comes along (like when someone wants to download from my FTP server which shares a box with the P2P). Simply throttling an IP won't work, I need to throttle by port.

Bright ideas anyone?

[monty]

PFsense!

Some old PC (128 Mb ram is needed though), two NIC's and a CDrom and of you go (plus a thumbdrive if you plan to run from the LiveCD all the time, to save your settings).

Although it's best to have a small hard drive inside, I prefer to install instead of running from the liveCD.

[Rice_King]

Bright ideas anyone?

Monty's solution is probably more appropriate to your situation Crossy. I know you're quite technically capable and you have the spare hardware to do the project as recommended.

For others without the required resources, cFosSpeed, a software solution might be the answer. At 19 Euros, it isn't free but shouldn't break the bank either.

[percy2]

I'm sure this is easy and I'm simply not looking at the right products.

I need a cheap (read free, although a small fee would be fine) router application, I've got a number of PCs / NICs etc. knocking around so hardware will not be an issue.

We have a limited bandwidth connection, which (if it's allowed to) my P2P client will happily fill to the detriment of other sevices, Web browsing, Skype, BBC radio etc.

What I'd like to do is selectively and automatically throttle the P2P whenever something more important comes along (like when someone wants to download from my FTP server which shares a box with the P2P). Simply throttling an IP won't work, I need to throttle by port.

Bright ideas anyone?

If I'm understanding you correctly Azureus will do this for you.

You select a percentage of your bandwidth (mines set to 60%) it pings google or whichever site you select and based on the response changes the max bandwidth that Azureus is allowed to use.

You can also choose to turn off the auto speeder and have no limits or manually assign limits for both up and down load speeds.

Ii cannot be that simple can it

Cheers

[percy2]

FYI

On a True 2mb connection @ 60% I can Skype with video no problem.(most of the time)

Cheers

[briley]

Or if you want a very small P2P app use uTorrent, under 1 meg and you can set the upload and download speed independently - and it has a schedular that works.

(I found Azureus to be bolated and needed too much support)

[percy2]

I started with uTorrent but found that Azureus was much more flexible.

First thing to do with it though is get rid of the annoying Vuze interface.

For scheduling RSSfeed Scanner works fine for me.

Cheers

[Crossy]

Cheers chaps, PFsense looks interesting, something to play with in the dark evenings in Bangalore.

Percy, how do I turn off Vuze, I agree it's dashed annoying

[percy2]

Cheers chaps, PFsense looks interesting, something to play with in the dark evenings in Bangalore.

Percy, how do I turn off Vuze, I agree it's dashed annoying

Preferences/options - interface - start - display Vuze UI chooser - classic

I also have the mode switched to Advanced.

2 great plugins are the RSSfeeds Scanner and Autospeed.

Cheers