app to check whos on my network?

is there a good freeware app that lets me check who's on my network? something that lists mac addresses/host addresses?

 

Your router should have that information. Type in '192.168.1.1,' or whatever your router's IP is...you should access a GUI that you could find that info in.

If you do not know your IP, Start->Run...type 'cmd,' a window will pop up. Type in 'ipconfig /all' and it should show up in the resulting report.

 

yeah i already knew how to check through the router just wanted one that looked a little better - all my router gives me are ip addresses and mac addresses - i dont exactly have all of them from all my computers memorized :/

 

Network Magic?

 

Depending on how you have your network configured try the various options under the NET and NETSTAT commands. Both provide syntax by passing /? as a parameter. Run 'em from a DOS box.

The router logs are the best source.

 

I'm curious about this too. I just go a new Buffalo router, and everything about it seems to be great except for some things like this. At any given time I've got between 4-8 devices attached wirelessly to my network, and it sure would be nice to see what they were based on computer name vs. trying to memorize a whole bunch of MAC addresses. I also can't seem to find away to easily monitor traffic logs based on IP. Both were features that I assumed would be common since my 7 year old Netgear router had them.

Apparently I can load third party firmware to this router (DD-WRT or Tomato). I hadn't planned on doing this since it seems like a bunch of work and I didn't think I'd have need for the extra features, but I'm now considering it. Anyne have experience with either of these? Do you know if it tells who is connected to the network by computer name?

 

Those features are not common on home routers. I have a business class router that has the function but have not tried it. Most all of the loging features do not work correctly. A managed switch would work but not wirelessly. They generate a lot of logs and most are design to send to a SNMP server, where it can generate the report.

 

Really? Seems weird that my Netgear that was made in 2000-2001 time frame had all of this. Plus newer Netgear routers that friends have.

I keep hearing that the DD-WRT firmware upgrades a consumer level router to more of a business level router in terms of features. Any idea of it can tell me who is on my network by name? That's really the only feature missing that I truly care about.

 

Just have to watch, some apps won't work over wireless, only wired, and vice versa. Off the top of my head one way you could find this info, would be to use a Linux Live CD (Operator) or if you google for Network Security Live CDs you can find one. I believe the App is AirSnort (can't remember off the top of head), but with the app you can sniff your AP, and from that you will receive the connected clients, which would list their MAC and IP together. Nice thing is that the CD is bootable, so even if you don't use linux a lot, they are fairly easy to use with GUIs and decent support

 

I have and use a netgear FVS 338 VPN router. Netgear has problems with there firmware. I should know, been working with them for over a year now trying to the main basic functions to work corectlly. It will send logs on a timely manner now, but the advanced log coming from FW rules do not work. Not even to a SNMP server. Just because a router have the features does not mean it actually works. It has take a lot of work to get them to repair some major problems. Since 99% do not use the logging they to not test or work the bugs out. Besides you really do not want the router doing this type of work. It is a major overhead for most routers to handle. It can give you volume in and out with out the finer detail. Since my wireless is a seperate AP and use a managed switched, I can easly capture the traffic and send it to my SNMP server.

I use AdvenNet OpManger v7, it's free if you have 10 or less network hardware you want to monitor. If you want to see all traffic these can be huge, considering most web pages load from every where, due to the advertisement on the pages. But your running another PC 24/7.

 

I just flashed my WHR-G54S with the Tomato firmware and under device list it gives me exactly what I was looking for in telling exactly who is logged on to my network at any given time. I have Mac address, IP address, device name, how they are connected to the router (wired or wireless), and even signal strength. If your router supports this I'd highly recommend it. Took me about a half hour to install and get everything set back up again.