Freeware/Open Source internet traffic monitoring, what do you use?

[Darryl_Wilcox]

Hi

 

We currently use Ranger for web monitoring, application monitoring and some software deployment. I was wondering if anyone here knows of any good Freeware or opensource tools that do the same thing, it doesn't matter if they're individual tools or a whole suite. We have a tight budget this year and we don't like ranger so we're looking to move away from it.

 

Any suggestions appreciated.

[Mr.Ben]

I'm not up on Ranger as I've always avoided it! - We are a special school too, but as I built the network it's as Vanilla as I could make it.

 

What software are you deploying (are they legacy packages or MSI's?)

 

What's your Anti-Virus Solution at the school - I use Sophos Endpoint and it has Application Control built into it's newest version.

 

If you want to create MSI packages then I would recommend Installer 2 Go, It's freeware and supported by ads, but when you silently install using switches none of this is seen by the end user.

Edited March 9, 2010 by Mr.Ben

[Darryl_Wilcox]

Our network has been built also as Vanilla as possible.

 

The software we deploy we use MSI's.

 

We have AVG 8 net ed.

 

I'll check out Installer 2 Go as I need an MSI creator for something else.

[Potato-Peeler]

For web monitoring a mix of dansguardian with the squid proxy is free, and works rather well. Doesnt take too long to set up. And for software installs can't you just use group policies?

[Ric_]

If you have a MS Schools Agreement you should be able to get SCCM for a minimal charge... this will help with some of your software deployment.

 

If you don't already have a proxy in place (for web monitoring) look at Smoothwall Express as an open source alternative. For content filtering I'd look at Smoothwall's Gaurdian products (not free but not expensive).

 

Not sure about your application monitoring... if it's purely metering you want, SCCM will do that too.

[cookie_monster]

We moved away for Range a few years ago but i'll be honest you'll find it hard to replace all of the features for less money (it might cost more now than when we used it). We went vanilla then bought Smoothwall for internet monitoring which is an excellent product but it does cost.

 

As above you can deploy softeware using built in or free tools, print management can be done for free as well i'm sure there's a wiki post.

[Ric_]

As above you can deploy softeware using built in or free tools, print management can be done for free as well i'm sure there's a wiki post.

 

PyKota is the future there! (It was my wiki post)

[Darryl_Wilcox]

Hi again, and thanks for all the above responses and advice

 

We currently use ranger to capture some program installs, it simply takes an image of before and after and wraps this up into a package to deploy.

Has worked well for us in the past, about all that has though!

 

We don't use the account manager in ranger, just the software package distributer, ranger reporter which simply lists users / computers web pages access (but seems to have gone in v7) and within lan ranger there are reports of applications run.

 

really for what we're payingit seems a little silly to continue with ranger - also it is having implications on other things within the network (offering remote assistance for one)

 

We do use MSIs to deploy software but must confess this has only been software that has come to us with MSIs as an offering. We have never really looked at creating them ourselves but perhaps will investigate this.

 

We do need some very simple web access monitoring.

Something all staff could use would be even better, so as user friendly as possible.

All this needs to do is list URLs visited by users or PCs

I think i may make a new thread dedicated to this

 

We connect through various proxies already (managed by LEA or ISP) which are age related giving us filtering too, so i'm guessing an addiotional proxy will cause problems there?

 

Again thanks for all advice, and any further you may offer!

Edited March 17, 2010 by Darryl_Wilcox

[Dorise]

This internet monitor is free. (Name: "Gold monitor" by Axiomcoders).