Network Monitoring Program more simple than "MS Network Monitor v3"?

Hi, i have been appointed the "sysadmin" of my small organization's
network (since i supposedly know more than anyone else here,
debatable) and my first task is to find the bandwidth hogs and IM
slackers.

We have a linksys router and everyone insists on using windows so it
is more or less a windows network. We do not have a server (yet, i am
lobbying the director but its an uphill battle) so i don't have a
computer where all the traffic goes through. I found MS Network
Monitor v3.x (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/933741) and it *seems*
to do what i need like view network traffic w/o being installed on a
server only problem is that it is waaaay over my head and i have
little concept of how to filter/interpret the data.

I am trying to find a free app (lobbying my boss for a server is hard
enough as is w/o investing in even more software) that will simply
allow me to identify the sites users are visiting, how much they are
down/uploading, what they are down/uploading, and the services they
are using and how often they are using them (mainly instant
messaging), etc etc etc. And of course the information needs to be
understandable by someone like me (ie "advanced user" but not hacker/
sysadmin/guru).

Any help or suggestions would really be appreciated!

Cheers

-Gaiko

PS for the record i posted this on another group (something like
a.b.xp.general, can't remember which, i don't mean to crosspost but i
wasn't thinking when i put it on that group and it was suggested i put
it on a networking group)

gaikokujinkyofusho@gmail.com

Hi
It seems that you are currently on peer to peer topology.
Since on such a network each computer is on its own you cannot monitor them
from a central place. Microsoft Network monitor help troubleshoot problems
with applications on the network; it is Not a tool for the kind of
management that you need.
In order to control and measure usage you have to install software on each
computer (taking the risk that it can be bypassed, or disabled by
knowledgeable users).
Example for such software, http:/www.netlimiter.com
The real solution is to switch the Network to Windows 2003 Small business
server.
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserv...s/default.mspx
A trial version is available too,
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/bb738394.aspx
Jack (MVP-Networking).

<> wrote in message
news:d82647d4-8ee3-4169-aa91-...
> Hi, i have been appointed the "sysadmin" of my small organization's
> network (since i supposedly know more than anyone else here,
> debatable) and my first task is to find the bandwidth hogs and IM
> slackers.
>
> We have a linksys router and everyone insists on using windows so it
> is more or less a windows network. We do not have a server (yet, i am
> lobbying the director but its an uphill battle) so i don't have a
> computer where all the traffic goes through. I found MS Network
> Monitor v3.x (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/933741) and it *seems*
> to do what i need like view network traffic w/o being installed on a
> server only problem is that it is waaaay over my head and i have
> little concept of how to filter/interpret the data.
>
> I am trying to find a free app (lobbying my boss for a server is hard
> enough as is w/o investing in even more software) that will simply
> allow me to identify the sites users are visiting, how much they are
> down/uploading, what they are down/uploading, and the services they
> are using and how often they are using them (mainly instant
> messaging), etc etc etc. And of course the information needs to be
> understandable by someone like me (ie "advanced user" but not hacker/
> sysadmin/guru).
>
> Any help or suggestions would really be appreciated!
>
> Cheers
>
> -Gaiko
>
> PS for the record i posted this on another group (something like
> a.b.xp.general, can't remember which, i don't mean to crosspost but i
> wasn't thinking when i put it on that group and it was suggested i put
> it on a networking group)

Jack \(MVP-Networking\).