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Originally Posted by Stop It
Then they should make a linux friendly version 
But if they have a "forced" cap, then surely they should make us all use a bandwidth meter, if only so they/we know basic usage stats. |
I don't agree that Broadband medic should be manditory. I agree with BBKing that they should provide some sort of online monitoring, but this should be relatively easy for them to implement over the web (as the usage is tracked for the cap anyway, it should be relatively easy to put that info on the web).
Broadband medic has several major problems (one that affects me).
1) It is windows only. That leaves out all the Mac/Linux/FreeBSD/Solaris/Misc. Unix users. I personally use Windows, so this doesn't really affect me.
2) Assuming that Broadband medic keeps a track of usage itself (much like Dumeter), how would it track usage if connected on a router? This is easy enough if the router supports SNMP (it could retrieve the figure from the router), but if the router doesn't (mine doesn't appear to), it's not easy at all.
You could argue that you can retrieve this info through a Cable Modem. Yes, you can, if the modem supports SNMP, and NTL have enabled it. Those people using STBs in Ex CWC areas would be out of luck though, as NTL have disabled SNMP support on these. If you live in an area where NTL have enabled SNMP support, you can use various products to get usage data from the modem already *
3) If BB Medic retrieved the info from a server somewhere, then NTL would have the same problems of securing that server that they would if they made info available over the web.
If they were to provide this info for all users, I personally think it would be easier for them to provide it over the web.
*SNMP is a standard protocol for retrieving various statistics about network devices and computers. Have a look at
http://www.paessler.com/prtg/download for a freeware tool for bandwidth usage monitoring that seems to get good revies.