What program can I use to check downloads in HHeron?

Rusty,

vnstat is probably the application you are looking for. It is in the repositories and can be installed using synaptic, or the terminal. To install using a terminal, enter:

    $ sudo aptitude install vnstat

To learn more about vnstat after installing it, run:

    $ man vnstat

Please return to Launchpad and mark this question Solved if this resolves your issue.

Thanks!

Harvey

Hi Harvey, thanx for help - I used synaptic to download vnstat - and tried to install it as you said - however, after that, I cannot find it on the screen / desktop anywhere - i have not rebooted yet - perhaps I should try that. ? rusty

Hi Rusty,

vnstat is a console application (no gui). Open a terminal:

    Applications > Accessories > Terminal

    or type Alt-F2, and type gnome-termiinal and click Run

Once the terminal is open just run (don't need to type the '$'):

    $ vnstat

To learn more about vnstat:

    $ man vnstat

Please return to Launchpad and mark the question Solved if this resolves your issue.

Thanks!

Harvey

Hi, when I try it, the following happens:

p4@p4-desktop:~$ vnstat
No database found, nothing to do. Use --help for help.

A new database can be created with the following command:
    vnstat -u -i eth0

Replace 'eth0' with the interface that should be monitored. A list
of available interfaces can be seen with the 'ifconfig' command.
p4@p4-desktop:~$ vnstat -u -i eth0
Error:
Unable to read database "/var/lib/vnstat/eth0".
Error:
Unable to write database "/var/lib/vnstat/eth0".
Make sure it's write enabled for this user.
Database not updated.

Sorry but I am no programmer so I do not know what is wrong here or what I should do now
rusty

Rusty

Try preceding vnstat -u -i eth0 with sudo, I had to do that to generate the database, then afterwards I didn't need sudo to run vnstat:

    $ sudo vnstat -u -i eth0

Keep in mind, that if you are using wireless instead, your interface is probably wlan0. You can check by running:

    $ ifconfig

Then look to see what interface has an ip address, and that's the interface you should be using. If it's not eth0, then replace eth0 with the correct name.

The downside to vnstat, is you have to refresh the database frequently, it doesn't do it on it's own. The upside is, is that it will keep a historical log.

You can also get network throughput using the System Monitor:

    System > Administration > System Monitor

The big downside is that it only tracks the data per session, and you would have to remember to log your statistics before shutting down, restarting, etc.

Please report back to Launchpad and mark the question Solved if this resolves your issue.

Thanks!

Harvey

Rusty,

I am checking to see if the information I provided previously resolved your question. If so, please mark the question Solved.

Thanks!

Harvey

Hi Harvey,
I am afraid that this info in the terminal is above me - I have found a program in the Ubuntu apps which I use to see if there are movement on the network - I am now using that - it shows that small amounts of data is up and down loading if I do not use Firefox. However when use Firefox (3), much bigger chuncks of data flows than I had thought should - I do not know if it is part of the new Firefox or just what normally should happen - at least now I have more of an idea what is happening
thanx for the info provided and that you cared enough to assist

Rusty