NetLimiter 2 Pro Editor's Review

NetLimiter 2 Pro is a handy networking tool, that works like TCP/IP personal firewall, network monitor and a powerful bandwidth limiter. The latest version, 2.0.9, supports only Windows 2000 and newer Windows operating systems (Windows XP 32bit and 64bit versions, Windows 2003).

You can use this utility to limit your download/upload transfer rate for applications or even single connections and to monitor your traffic. It comes with many useful plug-ins such as traffic chart (shows application's real time activity), stats (keeps track of your sent/received data since the day NetLimiter has been installed), information, filter editor (helps you create and edit custom filters), rule editor (enables you to create and edit limit, grant and firewall rules), remote admin (allows you to control a computer on Internet or LAN by setting up limits, grants and firewall rules remotely) and permissions editor (lets you set access rights for specified users or user groups, which exist on your computer.)

NetLimiter 2 Pro monitors and controls traffic separately on three predefined zones: My Computer, Local Network and Internet. For example, you can limit the speed rate of an application in the Internet Zone, but allowing it to access the Local Network with full speed.

The 'Grant' feature is brand-new in NetLimiter 2. Seems similar to limits, but it works differently. When you set grant for an application or connection, then it means that you grant specified bandwidth for it. If other applications/connections take too much bandwidth, then it is taken from them and is given to the application/connection with granted bandwidth. Additional infos are provided with this new version like WHOIS and traceroute.

The firewall function can be enabled or disabled separately for each application, thus selecting which program to access the network and which not.

You may keep the stats forever and even choose to export them as an xml file on your local disk drive.

Pluses: It offers very good control over your network/Internet connections.

Drawbacks / flaws: It doesn't have logs.

In conclusion: A very useful application for those who want to monitor their traffic, and make more efficient use of their bandwidth.

version reviewed: 2.0.9