Bandwidth and Data Usage

This page tries to shed some light on the differences between software and hardware agents, and their bandwidth and data usage.

Note that communications data use and speed of agents can be adjusted. For instance, in a rural area with a limited internet connection, the communication speed of the agent can be reduced to minimize data and bandwidth consumption while still ensuring valuable information is provided.

Hardware agents are small, stand-alone devices dedicated entirely to monitoring your internet connection 24/7, even when other equipment is offline.

• Monitors wired or wireless connections, including LTE, 4G, and 5G services.
• Acts as an access point if one is needed
• Built-in DNS server for DNS privacy/redundancy
• Connect standard USB camera video or image snapshots
• Optional environment sensor
• Provides secure, encrypted, remote access (RAS) to devices on the LAN

The specific usage is determined by the features being used and enabled.

Below are some reports obtained from a local pfSense firewall, showing two agents running on the same LAN. One is a software agent and the other is a hardware agent. The report illustrates typical usage with occasional speed testing and minimal remote access.

Speed testing

When speed testing is enabled, this uses both bandwidth and data and the speed test can reach up to the maximum of the interface being used, typically, 100Mbps or 1Gbps. It is advisable to run speed tests for a certain duration but turn them off afterward, especially in locations with data caps, to optimize data usage.

Hardware agent stats from ntopng

Software agent stats from ntopng

As seen using bandwidth, hardware agent

As seen using bandwidth, software agent