Dear Masters

I am a newbie to Linux. Installed PCQLINUX 2008 on P-IV 3.0 GhZ, 256 MB RAM machine.

My actual requirement is I have an Internet Gateway Server with Windows XP Professional SP2 and 2 MBPS Broadband Connection. Throgh which all clients get Internet Connection Sharing.

But with that machine I am not able to see what internet activities my clients are doing. Somebody told that if I install LINUX it will have build-in Proxy software, which will cater my requirements. Lots and lots of GB is being consumed by my clients, but who is doing that much of download, I am unable to find.

Please tell me what is name of the software build-in with Linux, and how can I configure and use it in my day to day requirements.

The PC which I am using as gateway having 1 On-board Network Card and 1 add-on PCI LAN Card. 1 is being connected to Broadband Modem and the other is being used to connect my 24 port switch.

Please help me at the earliest.

Thanks in advance

Regards

PS Prasad
ps_prd@yahoo.com

If you have squid running, you could use any of these tools mentioned to analyze the traffic going out through your squid.I use Webalizer tool that is built into webmin. Its not necessary to have webmin but it will help you to manage your server graphically and remotely.

http://www.squid-cache.org/Scripts/

In addition, you may even configure squid for the clients as a "transparent proxy" so they do not have to setup anything in their browser. You need iptables (basic firewall and port filtering/redirecting capabilities) which is usually part of the kernel setup.
Btw., squid will not catch things like napster protocols or bittorrent downloads, but you can use iptables to block and/or log unknown services.
GUIs for basic configuration: webmin (squid), firestarter (iptables)