Netgate Discussion Forum
    • Categories
    • Recent
    • Tags
    • Popular
    • Users
    • Search
    • Register
    • Login

    How to tell what mac address or ip address is using the most bandwidth?

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Firewalling
    4 Posts 3 Posters 9.0k Views
    Loading More Posts
    • Oldest to Newest
    • Newest to Oldest
    • Most Votes
    Reply
    • Reply as topic
    Log in to reply
    This topic has been deleted. Only users with topic management privileges can see it.
    • R Offline
      rizwan602
      last edited by

      Hello,

      I have been asked to fix internet access problems at a high rise condominium where all the residents get internet through the home owners association. They are currently providing high speed internet by DSL. They HAD a simple Linksys router; which I replaced with pfSense (I am a m0n0wall die-hard).

      In m0n0wall one could look up firewall states and SORT a column which shows packet count in a row with the ip address or mac address (I can't remember). Anyway I can not find the same sorting ability in pfSense.

      Is there a way to do this or a BETTER way to find out which mac address or ip address is using the most bandwidth?

      Also is there a way to look at OUTBOUND traffic too and be able to see who's using the most?

      Any help is a greatly appreciated! I wish to not deploy m0n0wall but will if necessary. I think pfSense should have what I need.

      Thanks!!

      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • jimpJ Offline
        jimp Rebel Alliance Developer Netgate
        last edited by

        The states are under Diagnostics > States and you should be able to click the column headers to sort them.

        That won't tell you bandwidth, though. You will need to install a bandwidth monitoring package such as darkstat, which can graph by IP.

        If you want to watch "live" you can install iftop using pkg_add and use it from the shell.

        Remember: Upvote with the ๐Ÿ‘ button for any user/post you find to be helpful, informative, or deserving of recognition!

        Need help fast? Netgate Global Support!

        Do not Chat/PM for help!

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • D Offline
          dreamslacker
          last edited by

          In pfSense 2.0, you can monitor in realtime using the Status -> Traffic Graph and switch to LAN.

          For pfSense 1.2.3 or periodic checks (on either platform), you will need a package like DarkStat/ BandwidthD.

          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • jimpJ Offline
            jimp Rebel Alliance Developer Netgate
            last edited by

            Using that page works somewhat but the data does not stay visible for long. Someone would have to be sending tons of traffic to show there continually. Using one of the longer term graphing packages would be more effective, or using something like iftop which collects stats over a bit more time rather than starting fresh every couple seconds.

            Remember: Upvote with the ๐Ÿ‘ button for any user/post you find to be helpful, informative, or deserving of recognition!

            Need help fast? Netgate Global Support!

            Do not Chat/PM for help!

            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • First post
              Last post
            Copyright 2025 Rubicon Communications LLC (Netgate). All rights reserved.