[NTLUG:Discuss] Measuring bandwidth utilization - how?

[Chris Cox]

Richard Geoffrion wrote:
> I am trying to measure how much bandwidth each of our dual redundant T1
> internet connections are using.  I loaded up MRTG but I'm not running SNMP
> on the slackware server so there was no community string with which to
> connect.

Is there any reason for not running an snmp daemon there?

> 
> Am I barking up the wrong tree?  What shows live bandwidth usage with maybe
> some historical data collection so that graphs can be created?  If I need to
> stick with MRTG, what is involved in activating SNMP for my ethernet nic and
> my T1-integrated-CSU/DSU nic?
> 

If you're comfortable with MRTG, it's ok.  I've used cacti for some recent
deployments (just trying to make it easier to add new devices for the novice).

Not sure if there's anything special you have to do for the T1 CSU/DSU nic.
I've never used one.  You'd think that it would be no problem though... unless
it's treated as some kind of special device somehow.... my guess is that it
is not.

Just get net-snmp up and running.  Ideally, the rest will simply just
getting your graphs setup... be that via MRTG, cacti or whatever.  Seems
there are several network mgmt/monitoring tools out there nowadays.

If you're new to snmp... there's plenty of online resources... here's
a very brief one with some nice quick examples:
http://enterprise.linux.com/article.pl?sid=04/08/06/1948203&tid=100&tid=18&tid=94