Graph upload bandwidth statistics over extended period

Tomha · 27 Oct 2013

We are currently having issues with our internet connection, such as timing out on servers. After a lot of troubleshooting I think perhaps the issue is we are exceeding our upload bandwidth. To help identify this, I am looking for some software that can run in the background on a computer and graph the upload (and download, but not necessary), bandwidth used by the computer. This will allow me to take note of times when the issues arise, and look at how much bandwidth the household is using as a whole. Currently all our computers have Networx, but I cannot find a way to reliably graph upload speeds for an extended period of time.

Does anyone know of a program which might do the trick?

Thanks,
Tom

Shadowjk · 28 Oct 2013

These statistics are normally retrieved using SNMP. Does your router support the running of SNMP to retrieve utilisation statistics and packets per second on a particular interface?

If you can provide the make/model of your router then I can help to find out for you.

From there I can suggest suitable software which can be run to retrieve these statistics using the SNMP protocol and display it into a graph.

Just a note, the timing out of connection to servers shouldn't be related to your upload bandwidth unless you are the one hosting the servers.

Many Thanks,
Josh :)

Tomha · 28 Oct 2013

The modem/router (its both) is one provided by our broadband provider, the EchoLife HG556a. This site has a lot of info on the specifics of the modem, though I saw nothing on SNMP. To be fair, it seems like a pretty cheap one. We are looking at getting a new one, but I am still looking into some good router/modem both-in-ones or combos.

I'll explain why I thought upload may be the problem. First off, New Zealand has pretty bad internet, I am on a copper connection, and our max upload is about 100 kilobytes/second. From what I have been able to piece together so far, it seems as though there are periods where our total upload bandwidth spikes above this. I know very little of networking, but I thought perhaps if the servers sort of checked to see a given user is still connected, then perhaps my computer would get that message, but be unable to send a reply, the server would think I was gone, and kick me for "losing connection". This would have also explained how, while I was losing connection/being kicked, I could hear and see everything all other uses did, as I was still downloading this data, but they could not hear me, and I was not moving, because I couldn't upload my actions/audio/etc.

Thanks for the help :)

Shadowjk · 29 Oct 2013

If the server did check for connection which is typical on TCP connections then it will be using your download connection and not your upload.

A quick check shows that your router should have an SNMP agent configured. Apparently it is under Management\SNMP Agent

Are you able to provide a screenshot of that information?

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Many Thanks,
Josh :)

Tomha · 29 Oct 2013

I had a look around the modem's settings, there isn't much - couldn't find anything that might relate to SNMP. I feel like perhaps it is using a simplified version of the modem software, from my ISP, which excludes more advanced options? Below is a preview of the home directory for you to have a look.