Suggestion for internet connection

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Lazy and Stupid

Suggestion for internet connection

Post by Lazy and Stupid »

As much as I love Mint, I really miss having a utility that lets me know that outgoing and incoming network traffic is occurring on my computer. On older LINUX distributions and on Windows the little icon of the two monitors in the control panel (that was for the network connection) would blink whenever data was flowing. It would be nice to have at least that functionality. A nice bonus would be: if you click on the network icon in the control panel, it tells you how many packets are going to which IP address or which IP address is sending data and how much including the amount sent. I wish I knew more about network communications and protocols because I would write it if I could. Unfortunately all I ever write is scientific programs that have very little IO so I don't know how to do it.

I used to keep a close eye on those blinking lights and more than once it told me that I had a Trojan in Windows when the little monitors (in the icon) would start blinking like a Christmas tree. If I wasn't doing any thing on the Internet or there was no good reason for network traffic I new something bad was happening. I would kill the connection and then check my logs. I could watch the lights on my router but its not as convenient as having it right on your desktop. If such a program already exists please let me know.

If I had to choose one thing that I really miss that would be it. Its like being blind and the only thing about Mint that is annoying.
DrHu

Re: Suggestion for internet connection

Post by DrHu »

Lazy and Stupid wrote:On older LINUX distributions and on Windows the little icon of the two monitors in the control panel (that was for the network connection) would blink whenever data was flowing....If I had to choose one thing that I really miss that would be it. Its like being blind and the only thing about Mint that is annoying
http://linux.softpedia.com/get/System/M ... 4589.shtml
http://gnetwatch.sourceforge.net/
--a java based graphical app
Try nethogs
http://nethogs.sourceforge.net/
In Terminal
  • apt search nethogs
    i nethogs - Net top tool grouping bandwidth per process
Linux, general info..
http://librenix.com/?page=Network%20Monitor

And of course the supplied by Mint 7 installation, system monitor
mint menu>favorites>System Monitor resources..
Lazy and Stupid

Re: Suggestion for internet connection

Post by Lazy and Stupid »

Thank you Dr.Hu! Its amazing how you manage to read all the posts and respond so quickly.

I will try those programs you recommend. GNetWatch is downloading as I write this. The system, monitor is a great tool and I use it frequently but its not really what I want which is just a couple of blinking lights in the corner of my screen so I can keep my eye on things when I am plugged in.
mike-uk

Re: Suggestion for internet connection

Post by mike-uk »

Hi,
I realise that this is an old post but the problem remains.
There is no simple network monitor along the lines of Knemo in kde or NET in Bodhi.
I know I'm not alone in requiring this simple applet, maybe Network Usage Monitor could be converted to give this visual traffic indication?
This is my first Cinnamon install but it looks like I have to wait for KDE.

A different subject: It would be nice to see KILL as a context menu entry when attempting to close an app.

This is truly a nice system. :)
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