Dear List,
I am using the MTNL Triband broadband service with Debian Sarge. I connect to the modem using DHCP, and get on and off by using
/etc/init.d/networking (start|stop)
Now, I am looking for an unobtrusive way of measuring how many bytes I use up every session, especially as I find the MTNL account check very unreliable. I heard that the TX bytes and RX bytes are the correct indicators in the output of /sbin/ifconfig eth0. I wanted to know whether noting these down is a measure of how much I have used in that session. Also, I wanted to know whether these details are logged elsewhere on my PC, in some file, so that I can extract the details from that file.
(It can be assumed that I connect to the internet only from Sarge).
Thank you.
Aparna
On Sat, 2006-06-10 at 12:48 +0530, Aparna Appaiah wrote:
Now, I am looking for an unobtrusive way of measuring how many bytes I use up every session, especially as I find the MTNL account check very unreliable.
Indeed, I have come to the same conclusion after going thru the session details report.
I heard that the TX bytes and RX bytes are the correct indicators in the output of /sbin/ifconfig eth0. I wanted to know whether noting these down is a measure of how much I have used in that session. Also, I wanted to know whether these details are logged elsewhere on my PC, in some file, so that I can extract the details from that file.
This is a very reliable number. You could write a script to capture the date/time, Rx/Tx (from ifconfig) @ the begining and the end of your pppoe session and save it in a CSV format but ... there are a couple of solutions that were discussed in the Linux India Help list - sorry cannot remember them of the cuff. I suggest you search thru the list archive http://sourceforge.net/mailarchive/forum.php?forum=linux-india-help
-- Arun Khan (knura at yahoo dot com) "Drawing on my fine command of language, I said nothing."
On Sat, 2006-06-10 at 21:08 +0530, Arun K. Khan wrote:
This is a very reliable number. You could write a script to capture the date/time, Rx/Tx (from ifconfig) @ the begining and the end of your pppoe session and save it in a CSV format but ... there are a couple of solutions that were discussed in the Linux India Help list - sorry cannot remember them of the cuff. I suggest you search thru the list archive http://sourceforge.net/mailarchive/forum.php?forum=linux-india-help
From my admin notes here are a couple of tools to report on bytes
uploaded/downloaded on any network interface:
vnstat http://freshmeat.net/projects/vnstat/
ibmonitor http://ibmonitor.sourceforge.net/ - requires Time::HiRes PERL module
HTH -- Arun Khan (knura at yahoo dot com) Chapter 1 The story so far: In the beginning the Universe was created. This has made a lot of people very angry and been widely regarded as a bad move.
On Saturday 10 June 2006 16:19, Arun K. Khan wrote:
uploaded/downloaded on any network interface:
vnstat http://freshmeat.net/projects/vnstat/
ibmonitor http://ibmonitor.sourceforge.net/ - requires Time::HiRes PERL module
What about MRTG or Awstats? Might be an over kill?
On Sat, 10 Jun 2006, Dinesh Joshi wrote:
On Saturday 10 June 2006 16:19, Arun K. Khan wrote:
uploaded/downloaded on any network interface:
vnstat http://freshmeat.net/projects/vnstat/
ibmonitor http://ibmonitor.sourceforge.net/ - requires Time::HiRes PERL module
What about MRTG or Awstats? Might be an over kill?
-- Dinesh A. Joshi
what about the built-in function in gkrellm. It gives me download/uplaod/total traffic stats on a daily/weekly/monthly basis.
Sharukh.
On 6/10/06, Arun K. Khan knura@yahoo.com wrote:
On Sat, 2006-06-10 at 21:08 +0530, Arun K. Khan wrote:
This is a very reliable number. You could write a script to capture the date/time, Rx/Tx (from ifconfig) @ the begining and the end of your pppoe session and save it in a CSV format but ... there are a couple of solutions that were discussed in the Linux India Help list - sorry cannot remember them of the cuff. I suggest you search thru the list archive http://sourceforge.net/mailarchive/forum.php?forum=linux-india-help
From my admin notes here are a couple of tools to report on bytes
uploaded/downloaded on any network interface:
vnstat http://freshmeat.net/projects/vnstat/
ibmonitor http://ibmonitor.sourceforge.net/ - requires Time::HiRes PERL module
I'll try out vnstat. Thanks for the pointer.
Aparna.
On Sun, 2006-06-11 at 07:52 +0530, Aparna Appaiah wrote:
vnstat http://freshmeat.net/projects/vnstat/
ibmonitor http://ibmonitor.sourceforge.net/ - requires Time::HiRes PERL module
I'll try out vnstat. Thanks for the pointer.
If you have Night Unlimited plan, then you might want to stop/start your connection @ 00:00 and 08:00 hours for clear demarcation of "metered" and "un-metered" usage. Also, ensure the time on your system is sync'd to a time servers (time-a.nist.gov time-b.nist.gov ntp0.usno.navy.mil ntp2.usno.navy.mil ntp1.usno.navy.mil) on a regular basis and compare your logs with MTNL's "session details" you might come across interesting entries in their record keeping.
During the latter part of May, I noticed that there was a discrepancy (to my detriment) of about 9-10 mins between my records and the time stamp on their "session details"
-- Arun Khan (knura at yahoo dot com) Every improvement in communication makes the bore more terrible. -- Frank Moore Colby
On Monday 12 June 2006 10:11 am, Arun K. Khan wrote:
Also, ensure the time on your system is sync'd to a time servers (time-a.nist.gov time-b.nist.gov ntp0.usno.navy.mil ntp2.usno.navy.mil ntp1.usno.navy.mil) on a regular basis
The abv is very important. Also reset a few minutes after 0000 MTNL ST and a few minutes before 0800 MTNL ST to avoid grief.
and compare your logs with MTNL's "session details" you might come across interesting entries in their record keeping.
"Site will be available from 1730 hrs to 0830 hrs. Please check during these times." says http://register.mtnl.net.in/. And continues to say the same thing at all hrs for the past 9 days.
During the latter part of May, I noticed that there was a discrepancy (to my detriment) of about 9-10 mins between my records and the time stamp on their "session details"
I have been billed for 900 MB of night downloads, due to the abv discrepancy. The MTNL official however agreed to "reduce" the bill a week ago -then went on leave. The bill is unpaid at the moment and i stand the risk of disconnection.
On Mon, Jun 12, 2006 at 11:19:01AM +0530, jtd wrote:
"Site will be available from 1730 hrs to 0830 hrs. Please check during these times." says http://register.mtnl.net.in/. And continues to say the same thing at all hrs for the past 9 days.
The site is up now and you can login. :)
Regards,
Rony
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On Monday 12 June 2006 10:25 pm, Rony wrote:
On Mon, Jun 12, 2006 at 11:19:01AM +0530, jtd wrote:
"Site will be available from 1730 hrs to 0830 hrs. Please check during these times." says http://register.mtnl.net.in/. And continues to say the same thing at all hrs for the past 9 days.
The site is up now and you can login. :)
Not yet from Kanjurmarg. Technician says "site line is down from Kanjurmarg". wonder what black art topology they use to allow acess to the net but prevent this one from Kanjurmarg exchange. will remain down for 2 days says technician.
-
Aparna Appaiah -
Arun K. Khan -
Dinesh Joshi -
Dr. Sharukh K. R. Pavri. -
jtd -
ronbillypop＠yahoo.co.uk