Monitoring a large network of computers

[Jack the Smack]

I was wondering if there was software which I could install on all computers on a network, then one computer could check on the internet browser history of each PC or the entire group. I don't wanna monitor key strokes or anything personal like that, just the domain names people go to and the length of time they spend on them. This was a request by a business owner.

 

[Mr Pepsi]

Proxy server.
Edit: Now called Internet Security & Acceleration Server.
http://www.microsoft.com/forefront/edgesecurity/isaserver/en/us/

I'm sure there are open source free versions for a desktop.

 

[Burning1]

Agreed. A proxy server is the correct approach. You could even use a transparent proxy.

If you're feeling frisky, you can perform log analysis to see when people are browsing naughty stuff, or even install an IDS.

 

[mike23w]

proxy server can't precisely track how long someone has visited a site.
it can only make an approximation.

 

[Jack the Smack]

Yea if there was a simple program I could actually install and it shows how long each window has been in focus.

If someone had facebook in the background 95% of the time, and Microsoft Excel was in focus 95% of the time, it could tell the difference.

 

[TommyWillB]

This was a request by a business owner.

I certainly don't want to work for that business. Clearly they spend too much time looking for problems rather than innovations.

 

[Jack the Smack]

I certainly don't want to work for that business. Clearly they spend too much time looking for problems rather than innovations.

How would you know?

 

[Papi-C]

I certainly don't want to work for that business. Clearly they spend too much time looking for problems rather than innovations.

Most companies monitor your internet usage.

 

[Burning1]

Okay, first of all... If they have their facebook page open for 6 hours, and you aren't seeing a lot of traffic through the proxy they aren't using facebook. Facebook, and the web in general isn't like checking out a book from the library. If someone's actively using it, you're going to see a lot of traffic, becuase they are going to be clicking through pages, playing games, etc.

Second, technology doesn't solve all problems, especially management, motivation, and trust problems. If you're concerned that your employees are looking at facebook for 6 hours a day, you probably haven't set appropriate goals and expectations for them.

If you have the right expectations and goals, they can't look at facebook because they aren't going to meet those goals (and if they do, what do you care? they did their job...)

 

[TommyWillB]

At the proxy-server, yes. Few do it at the desktop. And I've never heard of active-window monitoring.

 

[Hooli]

most All companies monitor your internet usage.

Fixed. :nerd

 

[TommyWillB]

Okay, first of all... If they have their facebook page open for 6 hours, and you aren't seeing a lot of traffic through the proxy they aren't using facebook. Facebook, and the web in general isn't like checking out a book from the library. If someone's actively using it, you're going to see a lot of traffic, becuase they are going to be clicking through pages, playing games, etc.

Second, technology doesn't solve all problems, especially management, motivation, and trust problems. If you're concerned that your employees are looking at facebook for 6 hours a day, you probably haven't set appropriate goals and expectations for them.

If you have the right expectations and goals, they can't look at facebook because they aren't going to meet those goals (and if they do, what do you care? they did their job...)

Exactly!!

This sounds like more of a proble with rookie management than lazy employees.

 

[scotinexcile]

First of all the OP was asked by the Business Owner to find an answer, so he was ASKED to find a technology solution, the Human Resource problems are NOT his to solve. Neither is the "morality" of what he has been asked to do.

What types of Servers and workstations are in use on the network?
How many workstations need to be monitored?
What types of firewalls/internet security devices are in place?
What is the budget for the project?

Sounds like a expensive waste of time and energy to me but when customers ask we jump, we dont ask how high!!!!!

Good luck with the project

 

[Burning1]

I provide IT solutions. Part of that is providing feedback to management, and suggest approaches to solving problems. If they decide to proceed regardless of my input, that's fine... But typically that's when I start considering other opportunities.

 

[scotinexcile]

I provide IT solutions. Part of that is providing feedback to management, and suggest approaches to solving problems. If they decide to proceed regardless of my input, that's fine... But typically that's when I start considering other opportunities.

Same here, but I am first and foremost a IT consultant NOT a management consultant. If they ask for specific IT solution then I try my best to provide it or suggest a better alternative to get what they want. I dont have to ask WHY they want the result just provide the result as specified in the contract :teeth

 

[Jack the Smack]

First of all the OP was asked by the Business Owner to find an answer, so he was ASKED to find a technology solution, the Human Resource problems are NOT his to solve. Neither is the "morality" of what he has been asked to do.

What types of Servers and workstations are in use on the network?
How many workstations need to be monitored?
What types of firewalls/internet security devices are in place?
What is the budget for the project?

Sounds like a expensive waste of time and energy to me but when customers ask we jump, we dont ask how high!!!!!

Good luck with the project

It's just a bunch of Windows XP/Windows 7 computers. Active window monitoring that could be viewed across a network by a single user would be a perfect setup. I've been googling for quite some time.

 

[Marlowe]

I've turned clients away when they've asked me to do stupid things, or gently nudged them in the right direction.

This is a management/process problem, not a technical one. It's reasonable to decline to do something that is going to be a waste of their money.

Monitoring software can be circumvented or uninstalled, and so can proxies -- even transparent ones, with some clever tunneling or by tethering to their phone.

OTOH, good management, that assigns enough work and keeps track of their progress, will keep people productive.

 

[Burning1]

Same here, but I am first and foremost a IT consultant NOT a management consultant. If they ask for specific IT solution then I try my best to provide it or suggest a better alternative to get what they want. I dont have to ask WHY they want the result just provide the result as specified in the contract :teeth

Agreed, but I'd counter that often what someone says they want and what they actually want are quite different.

 

[/dev/null]

If I was asked that question, I would call a programmer and ask for an estimate of how much/how long it would take to program an agent and monitoring software. As far as I know there's no group policy or SNMP element you could use.

I'm guessing that this is for a small business and that the management that asked for this is has no knowledge of IT and is living proof of the Peter Principle.*

*"in a hierarchy every employee tends to rise to their level of incompetence"

 

[scotinexcile]

It's just a bunch of Windows XP/Windows 7 computers. Active window monitoring that could be viewed across a network by a single user would be a perfect setup. I've been googling for quite some time.

Get the GoToAssist agent to run at startup and auto connect. Then you could "log on" to each user session and see what they were doing. You can also set it up to record what happens but it is not transparent that I know off