Router Advice Required

[slinky]

Folks,

We're looking for a router or network device to sit between our network and the internet to control the number of concurrent connections to an external IP address.

The scenario is this, we are looking at implimenting a remote control solution for remote assistance for our customers, the product that we are currently looking into is costed on a per port basis.. so, we pay for 20 ports.. that means 10 people here can connect to 10 customers, but if we go over 20 "ports" we get an overport charge..

So we need to control the number of outgoing connections.

Any ideas on this one?

Cheers,

slinky

[guydw]

Off the top of my head, I would say that the only way to use a router / firewall to limit connections would be with NAT.

You would configure a NAT pool of 10 ip addresses, when the iith person tried to connect it would be dropped.

There is probably a far more elegant method, maybe some remote access solution that will do it for you, but my way will work on a Cisco router.

[stuuu]

You are after a cumulative limit on the number of connections to a specific port (and IP address??)

A quick google pulled up an HP-UX command so it could be available on Linux, which could also mean its a feature on most switches/ routers too???

Sorry can't solve your problem straight off. Update us when you do though!

Stu