User Accounting

The accounting features make WinGate a useful LAN management tool. Accounting information is updated in real time if you are viewing the user record of someone that is accessing the Internet. Data totals are updated at the termination of each session. Time on line is updated when all a user’s data sessions have terminated. Sections and terms are explained below.

Data totals:

Bytes sent to client	This is the total number of bytes WinGate has sent to the client machine. In the case of HTTP use, a lot of this will come from the cache.
Bytes received from client	This is the data that the client has sent to WinGate.
Bytes sent for client	This is the data that WinGate has sent to servers on behalf of the client. This is usually different to the number of bytes received from the client.
Bytes received for client	This is the amount of data WinGate has downloaded from the Internet on behalf of the client. This is will likely be lower than the number of bytes sent to client, due to caching.
Seconds online	This is the number of seconds that a client was registered with WinGate. Note that this is not a reliable way of telling how much time a user spends on the net if they are logged on. In this case, the time is the entire period they are logged on. Being logged on does not imply Internet use. Seconds online is updated at the end of all user sessions i.e. when a user logs out.

Charging:

Rates	In the rates boxes you can specify what you will charge per Megabyte or time online. Typically only Bytes received for client and Bytes sent for client will be charged.
Total Charges	This is the sum of the charges accrued.
Opening Balance	This is what the user has paid so far.
Closing Balance	This is the Opening Balance less Total Charges.
Reset	This button resets the Quantity fields. Beware, there is no confirm dialog, so if you muck up, press cancel!

The Scheduler has functions for exporting and resetting the user database information.

Example Scenarios:

Specify an amount, maybe $20, and that will be free for the user. If the Closing Balance goes negative, the user pays you that amount.

User pays an amount (this goes in Opening balance), they can use the Internet till their balance is zero, then access is cut off. This is ideal for Internet Cafes.