Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

General discussion

Internet Quota Software

Jun 30, 2015 2:12AM PDT

I'm looking for a piece of software that can effectively manage Internet bandwidth and impose data usage quotas on the Internet connection.

This needs to run on a standalone PC. Doesn't have to be free. I suppose it could be like an Internet café type solution, but I'm not that interested in billing people it's more about the quotas.

Anyone had any experience with such software that they would recommend please? Thanks.

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
checked the access settings in your router yet?
Jun 30, 2015 3:13AM PDT

Also the parental settings in it. Might have all you want.

- Collapse -
So many reasons to get a router to do this.
Jun 30, 2015 5:05AM PDT

So many that I'll stop here.

- Collapse -
No router to speak of
Jun 30, 2015 5:41AM PDT

I should have mentioned that there is no router to speak of. There is a switch in place which then connects to a satellite connection. The quota needs to be able to be overridden in emergency situations, etc.

- Collapse -
Without a router
Jun 30, 2015 5:48AM PDT

It's unusual to share an internet connection as they can't hand out real internet addresses. My bet is there's some router in the mix.

There are PC based routers but I won't recommend any particular package. The reason for a router is mostly about ease of setup and power usage. A desktop PC seems to be about 150+ Watts so your electricity bill will easily exceed the cost of a router that does quotas.

If you really want a PC ROUTER google PC ROUTER and begin the journey.