How do you control network traffic with your operating system?

1 What is network traffic control?

Network traffic control is the process of managing the flow of data packets across a network. It involves monitoring, filtering, prioritizing, shaping, and routing network traffic according to various criteria, such as bandwidth, latency, congestion, security, and quality of service (QoS). Network traffic control can be implemented at different levels, such as the application, transport, network, or data link layer. However, in this article, we will focus on the network layer, which is the layer where the operating system interacts with the network devices and protocols.

2 Why do you need network traffic control?

Network traffic control can help you achieve various objectives, from improving the performance and efficiency of your network connections to enhancing the security and privacy of your communications. It can also ensure the reliability and availability of your network services, as well as support the different needs and preferences of your network users and applications by allocating and distributing resources accordingly. By doing so, you can reduce packet loss, delay, and jitter; block or limit unwanted or malicious traffic; prevent or mitigate network failures, overloads, or attacks; and prioritize and meet the requirements of your users and applications.

3 How do you monitor network traffic with your operating system?

Monitoring network traffic is the first step to controlling it with your operating system. Doing so can help you understand your network's current state, identify potential issues or opportunities, and plan or adjust your traffic control strategies. There are various tools and methods to monitor network traffic, such as built-in commands or utilities like ping, traceroute, netstat, ipconfig, or ifconfig to check the status and configuration of your network interfaces and connections. Additionally, graphical or command-line tools like Wireshark, tcpdump, nmap, and hping can capture and analyze the details of packets passing through your network interface or a specific port. Web-based or desktop tools like Nagios, Zabbix, or SolarWinds can monitor and visualize the performance of your network devices and services.

4 How do you filter network traffic with your operating system?

Filtering network traffic with your operating system means allowing or denying the access or transmission of certain network packets based on predefined rules or criteria. This can help protect your network from unwanted or harmful traffic, such as spam, viruses, worms, or hackers, as well as controlling the access and permissions of your network users and applications. To filter network traffic, you can use a variety of methods, such as firewall software or hardware like Windows Firewall, iptables, pfSense, or Cisco ASA to create rules that specify which packets can enter or leave your network. Proxy server software or hardware like Squid, Apache, or NGINX can act as an intermediary between your network and the internet while filtering, modifying, or caching the packets that pass through it. Additionally, virtual private networks (VPNs) like OpenVPN, WireGuard, or NordVPN can create a secure and encrypted tunnel between your network and a remote one while filtering or bypassing the packets that travel through it.