MAC/IP-based QoS Services?

[Vicenarian]

Ok, so here's the situation. I want to be able to limit the bandwidth of certain system(s) on a network. Preferably, being able to apply QoS/bandwidth limitation rules based on MAC or IP address. Also preferably being able to limit to certain mbps/kbps, instead of just general settings like "Low/Medium/High Priority", etc.

Right now, I'm thinking of flashing a WRT54G with Tomato/DD-WRT, but I'm open to other ideas. I'd like to stick to something under $100 also, and setting up a dedicated PC to run something like untangle/firewall software just won't work very well (not enough room for a dedicated PC box).

I also noticed some Netgear switches have QoS type features, but I think they only prioritize traffic based on protocol, etc. and don't give the level of control that I require in this case.


Thanks in advance for your assistance/suggestions!!!

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

DD WRT and my preferred 3rd party firmware for broadcom based devices...Tomato, both have QoS that can be applied to IP or MAC.

http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.ph...ritizing_by_IP_Address_.28Netmask_Priority.29

http://www.wi-fiplanet.com/tutorial...ow-to-Manage-Traffic-Using-Tomato-and-QoS.htm

However, the best setup I've seen for the scenario you describe...is a feature in the traffic shaping function of PFSense...called "The Penalty Box".

http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/lanw...g-your-networks-bandwidth-hogs-part-1?start=1

Problem with PFSense for your scenario though...is the budget/size thing. However, you can find some small appliances, close to your budget, about the same size as a standard off the shelf broadband router.
http://store.netgate.com/Desktop-Kits-C82.aspx

 

[Vicenarian]

Thanks for your kind and helpful response YeOldeStonecat. Since I have a WRT54GL lying around, I might stick with Tomato firmware for now, but the PFSense solution would be especially ideal.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

I've preferred Tomato over DD-WRT......Tomato seems snappier, lighter, both web admin performance, and browsing...are better through it. It does have less features than some of the DD versions...but TBO, most people never touch the additional DD features. I find Tomatos QoS to be better. And better stability. I run my home LAN with Tomato, on a Cisco e3000 platform.

Keep an eye on eBay for a Netgate...you'll find one for under a hundge somewhere....

 

[Vicenarian]

I've preferred Tomato over DD-WRT......Tomato seems snappier, lighter, both web admin performance, and browsing...are better through it. It does have less features than some of the DD versions...but TBO, most people never touch the additional DD features. I find Tomatos QoS to be better. And better stability. I run my home LAN with Tomato, on a Cisco e3000 platform.

Keep an eye on eBay for a Netgate...you'll find one for under a hundge somewhere....

Ok, so I picked up a brand-new WRT54GL yesterday, flashed it today with tomato, and for some reason it just doesn't want to work with my home network. I have IPTV service through my ISP, and it keeps losing a (consistent) signal so the TV keeps dropping out every 20 seconds or less. PCs seemed to work OK, but yeah. Installed the old ISP-provided router back in, and everything worked again. I flashed the Linksys WRT54GL router back to the original Linksys firmware, and it still did the same thing, so I doubt it was the tomato firmware itself. Not sure why..maybe the thing is just defective?

So, I guess I'll have to go with a different solution.