Home User - Ipods and laptops

[Visuvius]

I have a wired/wireless home network. The Modem/Router & wireless unit is a Qwest PK5000. I have multiple switches downstream from this device to connect the many PC and non-PC devices to the internet and home media network (xbox, wii, etc.). It probably looks more like a disaster to someone like you, but it works.



My kids have laptops now (yay for Grandma's Christmas presents) and now they have a PC in whatever room they want, whereas before all the home PC's were in the same room. Obviously now I'm interested in monitoring capabilities where I was less concerned before.



Kids also have Ipods connected wirelessly as well.



I'm interested in your product, but I have some questions. Will it allow all the non-PC devices to operate without interfering with them? Can it monitor Ipod web activity (chat and web browsing)? The wireless is through the modem, I can disable the wireless there and get a wireless router downstream if needed, but I do want to keep the budget in check - any recommended products?



I read through some of the solutions in this forum to get the wireless router to act as a wireless switch - but I didn't understand it very well. This would be my preferred option if I understand the concept right, but I'm not sure I can do it with my hardware.



Also, when I've tried to get a 2nd router downstream, I was never able to see the whole network properly (this was resolved when I started using switches), what would be the recommended set up so this software could work? (I'm not sure a down-stream wireless router is a good Idea as I want all the PC's to 'see' each other across the network - unless all PC's are below this 2nd router?).



And keep in mind that even though I am a bit PC literate, networking and assigning IP addresses, DHCP and NAT are not things I am familiar with.



Thanks in advance,



Jason

[gengw2000]

Sorry for the delay. Below are my answers:



WFilter is able to monitor internet activities of laptops and ipods. But you need to deploy it at a correct position first.



The key point is a manageable switch, which allows you to setup a mirroring port for monitoring purpose. To monitor wireless devices, your wireless AP shall be a downstream device of the manageable switch.



Please check the wireless deployment example for more details: WFilter wireless deployment.



Since you already have several switches, if one of them supports port mirroring, you can setup it as the monitoring switch. For how to check whether a switch support port mirroring, please check: http://blog.imfirewall.us/How+To+Check+Whether+A+Switch+Supports+Port+Mirroring.aspx