Monitoring usage - Page 3

rdhw · 22-12-2003, 09:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by hjf288

Well 192.168.100.1 is the modems address, it provides the diagnostic web stats. Only if we bypass ntls ubr and connect straight to the modem can we access it.

I really don't understand what you are trying to do and not succeeding with. Can you be more specific? The cable modem is closer to you than the UBR, so there is no meaning in saying only if we bypass the UBR and connect straight to the cable modem.

If you have a Stand-Alone Cable Modem, then you can use 192.168.100.1 to access the traffic counters via SNMP. This is how DocsDiag works. If you can use DocsDiag, then MRTG and all the rest will work too.

If you have a router or a firewall between the cable modem and your PC, then there might be problems because of the router/firewall not handling the SNMP replies correctly: this is not NTL's problem.

If you have digital TV set top box being used as a cable modem, then the SNMP features are not available to you. This is unlikely ever to change.

th'engineer · 22-12-2003, 10:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by rdhw

I really don't understand what you are trying to do and not succeeding with. Can you be more specific? The cable modem is closer to you than the UBR, so there is no meaning in saying only if we bypass the UBR and connect straight to the cable modem.

If you have a Stand-Alone Cable Modem, then you can use 192.168.100.1 to access the traffic counters via SNMP. This is how DocsDiag works. If you can use DocsDiag, then MRTG and all the rest will work too.

If you have a router or a firewall between the cable modem and your PC, then there might be problems because of the router/firewall not handling the SNMP replies correctly: this is not NTL's problem.

If you have digital TV set top box being used as a cable modem, then the SNMP features are not available to you. This is unlikely ever to change.

Robin just as an aside is there any program that can be used on STB to monitor useage.
I have a belkin router and three pcs connected so am after something to monitor the traffic through the router.

hjf288 · 22-12-2003, 10:44

Tbh Id prefer to make some cool graphs to show my connections working fine - When i see the spikes then i think either - Im not using my connection or somethings happening.

I employ MRTG and RRDTOOL generated tools on my web hosting server and it provides useful information and information to assist in diagnosing problems.

rdhw · 22-12-2003, 12:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by th'engineer

is there any program that can be used on STB to monitor useage. I have a belkin router and three pcs connected so am after something to monitor the traffic through the router.

There is no way available to the customer to measure traffic through an STB. Your best bet would be to use a router that supports SNMP querying of traffic counters, and monitor that instead: everything that goes through the router WAN port will be going through the STB, so monitoring the router is as good as monitoring the STB.

The practical problem is that very few domestic routers have sales literature that reveals whether they support SNMP, so that you can choose one before purchase.

hjf288 · 22-12-2003, 12:07

RDHW - In theory it should work - http://192.168.100.1 is unreachable - Pinging 192.168.100.1 is unreachable = The only way getting to it is if the default gateway is 192.168.100.1

Any other way and it wont work... As i prefer to use my internet while monitoring - It wouldnt be too good if i monitored without actually having internet access.

No router or firewall in place of the modem (Yes i really must install a firewall soon)

Ambit 200 cable modem via ETHERNET

Any ideas?

rdhw · 22-12-2003, 14:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by hjf288

http://192.168.100.1 is unreachable - Pinging 192.168.100.1 is unreachable = The only way getting to it is if the default gateway is 192.168.100.1. Ambit 200 cable modem via ETHERNET

What operating system are you getting these results with? Is this in an ex-C&W region of the country, or an original NTL region? Using Windows XP and an Ambit 100 in an original NTL region does not have this problem, and of course there are thousands of NTL users who happily read diagnostics from their Ambit via 192.168.100.1 using their web browser while online. So if you cannot do this, something must be different. Either the Ambit 200, or the ex-C&W setup, or the operating system.

There is one interesting misfeature of at least some (maybe all) of the Ambits: if you send a request to 192.168.100.1 during normal online working, the reply packets are labelled as coming from the ISP-side private IP address, and the replies are routed via the CMTS head-end (UBR) and back again (tromboned), rather than directly from the SACM to the PC. This reply might be blocked by security settings in the CMTS in the ex-C&W region. This mis-match of response IP address might cause routers and firewalls to drop the replies.

hjf288 · 22-12-2003, 15:27

Windows XP - Ambit 200 - EX C&W

Ive had periods of time where it seems "Open" and i can get in for an hour or so to monitor the modem but after that it will close again...

Florence · 22-12-2003, 23:19

I have the Ambit 200 with a linksys router. I have tried both with the router and without.. still the same. I am using windows 2000 I do know that the router will not block it as a friend has the exact router on his cable modem and his MRTG graphs are on his website for all to see, I am also EX C&W area.

to quote a post I did earlier.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kitty

NTL could do this and allow you access to the graphs online where you would log in and only have read access. I have downloaded bmextreme and have it running along du meter. Du meter is no good as it also adds the internel network traffic to the routers incoming and outgoing traffic.

It is really hard to know if you are inside or outside the guidlines of the AUP. Many don't care if they are or not I do care and wish to try and stay within the AUP.

I am willling to try and talk to NTL if more customers wish to have this feature added so they can monitor their usage. I don't need customer details just the forum names on here and a PM I can show saying that customers do want a way to monitor the usage.

I am still willing to arrange a meeting and spend time talking face to face with someone from NTL if it could get this idea on the future plans and then set up so customers can watch what they are doing with the connection..

hjf288 · 22-12-2003, 23:31

If they enable SNMP, ship a version of mrtg combined with a small webserver that only opens itself up to 127.0.01 and then shove a link on their desktop to the webserver and port to show the usage then wouldnt that be ok?
Unless they were doing it server side which be easier for us

but harder for NTL.

But some have SNMP/Modem access while we cant with Ambit 200s in EX C&W... :/ Is there no way at all to get around this problem without NTL intervening?

rdhw · 23-12-2003, 14:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by hjf288

But some have SNMP/Modem access while we cant with Ambit 200s in EX C&W. Is there no way at all to get around this problem

To hjf288, Kitty, and all others affected by not being able to communicate with their stand-alone cable modem in ex-C&W regions:

Please try the following experiment and report back. This assumes that your PC is directly connected to your cable modem (without a router in the way):

1. Open a command prompt window.
2. Discover your IP address by typing the command:

ipconfig

3. Let your IP address that you found be aaa.bbb.ccc.ddd
4. Type exactly the command:

route add 192.168.100.0 mask 255.255.255.0 aaa.bbb.ccc.ddd

where you replace aaa.bbb.ccc.ddd with the IP address that you discovered in step 2.

Now can your PC communicate with your cable modem on 192.168.100.1? For instance, try ping, and try accessing the web interface in the cable modem.

Florence · 23-12-2003, 14:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by rdhw

To hjf288, Kitty, and all others affected by not being able to communicate with their stand-alone cable modem in ex-C&W regions:

Please try the following experiment and report back. This assumes that your PC is directly connected to your cable modem (without a router in the way):

1. Open a command prompt window.
2. Discover your IP address by typing the command:

ipconfig

3. Let your IP address that you found be aaa.bbb.ccc.ddd
4. Type exactly the command:

route add 192.168.100.0 mask 255.255.255.0 aaa.bbb.ccc.ddd

where you replace aaa.bbb.ccc.ddd with the IP address that you discovered in step 2.

Now can your PC communicate with your cable modem on 192.168.100.1? For instance, try ping, and try accessing the web interface in the cable modem.

I will take the router off tonight when the kids have gone to bed and test this out. Will report back here.

hjf288 · 23-12-2003, 20:01

C:\Documents and Settings\Henry J. Fallon>route add 192.168.100.1 mask 255.255.255.0 81.**.***.***
The route addition failed: The specified mask parameter is invalid. (Destination & Mask) != Destination.

C:\Documents and Settings\Henry J. Fallon>route add 192.168.100.0 mask 255.255.255.0 81.**.***.***

The above one completes successfully but doesnt help, the very top one wont work...

BBKing · 24-12-2003, 09:15

Um - it's all very well asterisking out your IP address but leaving your actual name in the directory structure rather defeats the object

Also if you just asterisk out the last digit of your IP at least I can see which UBR you're connected to.

Florence · 24-12-2003, 09:39

It didn't work here I removed the router and followed the instructions. my IP is 81.97.2.*** I still cannot ping the SACM I also have Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 81.97.2.***

would have thought NTL would like customers to monitor their usage and attempt to stay inside the AUP even though its not being applied it will one day or they would have removed it from the AUP.

hjf288 · 24-12-2003, 11:22

BBKing, Why didnt you ask i couldve left the ips in :P But my name, i dont mind but i prefer not to disclose my ip unless asked for it.

BTW My modem is responding to monitoring as of 12:22 today... from a fresh power on of my system