hello friends,

i am nazish and i give internet connections locally(broadband).I have no server i just give connections thru a router right now.So i cannot manage the bandwidth to my users.They can take any amount of bandwidth available.Now, I am planning to set up a server using Linux and restrict the bandwidth my users use.Can anyone help me out ? I would be very grateful. I have checked some commercial bandwidth controllers in linux like
1.)Lisp v3.6 www.it-om.com
2.)bandwidth arbitrator www.bandwidtharbitrator.com
3.)net equalizer www.netequalizer.com

I cant afford costly commercial applications like this.So, are thre any open source applications available for free.If so pls tell me.

Plzzzzzz help!!!

Thanks in advance for anykind of help offered.

You could use delay pools in squid to restrict bandwidth, or something like IPCop or the Smoothwall might give those features. Both provide free versions and are fairly straightforward to setup and allow easier management via a web-interface.

If you want something easy to install and use try M0n0wall http://m0n0.ch/wall/ or pfsense www.pfsense.com/

If you also want to do application shaping take a look at. ipp2p.com