SoftPerfect Bandwidth Manager 3.2.11

Overview

SoftPerfect Bandwidth Manager is a traffic management utility for Windows that can be used to measure the bandwidth consumed and carefully meter out usage so that the per megabyte bandwidth cost doesn't get out of hand. 

Rules can be setup to to limit bandwidth usage per internet user. Therefore, this software can also be used by a company or a household to throttle the amount of bandwidth that different users are consuming of the available internet bandwidth to either restrict total account usage or ensure that every computer user can get their fair share of time on the internet each day. These types of activities go by several names like traffic shape or bandwidth limiter / shaper.

The rules can be set for communication ports, MAC or IP addresses matching specific computers, and network interfaces without any need to change the existing network setup for the computers in use. There is a central GUI from a networked connection that can control bandwidth usage for all users on the same network.

Installation

With the setup, the license needs to be accepted. About 1.2 MB is needed to install the program initially. Two components are pre-selected for installation, but either of these can be de-selected if the users wishes. The first is the Bandwidth Control Service and the other one is the Management Console (GUI). In almost all cases both should be installed. With both selected, the required available drive space rises to 1.5 MB. A Start menu shortcut is then created and the software proceeds with the installation. Once complete, the software checks whether the user wishes to launch the install package immediately.

Interface

When first running SoftPerfect Bandwidth Manager, a pop up window is displayed which requests the localhost and password information to log on to the network. A checkbox is presented to choose whether to save these credentials or re-enter them each time the package is loaded up.

The interface is pretty simple really. Some menus at the top, a row of toolbar buttons to control connection to the localhost and other important items. Then below this is the list of current rules that are active.

As rules can be setup reflecting particular computers with components using unique MAC addresses, these rules ultimately can relate to a single PC and a staff member at that desk. Therefore, the rules often are person-specific or computer-specific at very least.

The basic interface is easy to use and there isn't much of a learning curve to it, however there are many commands hidden away in the menus so this package does have quite a few features that'll take time to understand more about.

Pros

• Centralize GUI that can control bandwidth use across a network
• Create rules based on IP addresses, MAC addresses, protocols, ports, network interfaces, and more.
• Develop quotas and a scheduler for different levels of allowable internet use
• Send email notifications to be alerted about bandwidth use issues arise
• Generate usage reports

Cons

• None.

Conclusion

SoftPerfect Bandwidth Manager is an excellent package to control the amount of bandwidth that each computer/person on a network can use.