Antamedia Bandwidth Manager
  
Network Topology 3

Introduction

Antamedia Bandwidth Manager should be installed on standard PC computer running Windows OS. We'll call this computer Server computer.

Computer with installed Bandwidth Manager have to be a gateway for other computers in the network. With such setup we are forcing all computers in network to redirect traffic through Bandwidth Manager which will control whether such traffic should be allowed or blocked.

Server need to have 2 network cards. One network card (NIC1) will accept traffic from your network and it will pass it to Bandwidth Manager. If traffic is allowed, traffic will be redirected to second network card (NIC2) which is connected to Internet. Between NIC2 and Internet you can use routers, bridges, modems (xDSL, ISDN, Cable...). NAT (Network Address Translation) should be disabled on all routers. With traffic we are assuming opening web pages or other type of communication with Internet.

Bandwidth Manager software doesn't require any specific hardware so you can use Access Points, Modems, Switch or Routers that you already own, and just configure network settings.

Network Setup

As a first step, we will share Internet connection on NIC 2. To remind you, this is a network card that connect server computer with Internet. We recommend using Windows Interent Connection Sharing (ICS) as it's easy to setup and it's free to use. Detailed steps are described here:

NIC1 (connects your network with HotSpot computer) will get IP address 192.168.0.1. This is default IP that Internet Connection Sharing sets to your network card. Note that you can change this IP address to some other IP address. Subnet mask is 255.255.255.0 .

In this network topology, Access point connects wireless laptops through the Switch and the server computer to the Internet. IP address of Access Point is 192.168.0.10. Access Point have DHCP enabled so it assigns IP addresses automatically to all wireless laptop computers. Laptops will get IP address from range 192.168.0.11 to 192.168.0.49 and will have the same subnet mask as your server computer 255.255.255.0. Gateway should be 192.168.0.1 and DNS addresses are usually assigned by your ISP. NAT (Network Address Translation) should be disabled on the Access point.

In our example three Wired computers are connected to the Internet through the Switch and the server computer. IP addresses of Wired computers are 192.168.0.101 , 192.168.0.102 and 192.168.0.103. Subnet mask is the same as your server computer 255.255.255.0. Gateway is 192.168.0.1 and DNS addresses are usually assigned by your ISP.



Third example shows laptops connected to the access point, ethernet connected computers using switch,
 and computer running Bandwidth Manager which is connected to the Internet

How Does It Work ?

Once your customers step in your Access Point WiFi range, they will be able to scan the network and discover your Access Point. After they connect, Access Point will assign them IP and DNS settings automatically using DHCP. Please note that you need to enable free connection to Access Point without encryption or other limitations. If you have multiple Access Points you should specify different IP range that DHCP assigns to wireless users.

At this point, customer is connected to your WiFI and is able to use internet. Bandwidth Manager will check this IP / MAC and since customer is not authenticated, it will block access to the internet. In the case autologin option is enabled, all user without authentication will be able to use internet with default limitations.

It's similar for wired computer connected to the switch. Since this computer is already connected in network, after authentication customer will get access to Internet. In case that such computer is your back office computer which should have free access to Internet without limitations, you should specify it's MAC address in Bandwidth Manager Setup - Whitelist page.

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