The kernel has some built in IP Accounting if you configure it to do
so.  Possible suggestions from Ubuntu:

root@spidey:/ # apt-cache search accounting|grep -i ip
iptables - Linux kernel 2.4+ iptables administration tools
ipac-ng - IP Accounting for iptables( kernel >=2.4)
ipfwadm - Linux 2.0.x firewalling tools
jffnms - Web-based Network Management System (NMS) for IP networks
net-acct - User-mode IP accounting daemon
root@spidey:/ #

[0] http://www.faqs.org/docs/linux_network/x-087-2-accounting.html

-Derek

Technomage wrote:

>what I was looking for was a bit more detailed than that.
>it needs to identify which machine printed to what printer and how many pages.
>
>that data would be displayed at the pay point and the user of that machine 
>would then be charged the appropriate amount per page printed.
>
>one last note, this must also be interoperable with a "windows publisher 
>package". the person who wants this setup is very determined to have windows 
>clients in the system and nothing I can do will change his mind. plus, he is 
>willing to pay me good money to do what he wants..... so......
>
>
>On Friday 10 June 2005 21:37, Bryce C wrote:
>  
>
>>For pages printed, scraping the data from a CUPS server should be no big
>>problem, specifically if all the clients represent themselves as unique
>>users, then narrow by timeframe.
>>For the clients, I'd look at something like NoCatAuth. It's intended for
>>wireless networks, or it was originally at least, but could probably be
>>adapted to a wired network, simply requiring the user to "login" when
>>they try and access the net (would you be doing anything else at a
>>cybercafe? :-P) and then track their session length.
>>Just my thoughts.
>>
>>-Bryce
>>
>>On Fri, 2005-10-06 at 12:27 -0700, Technomage wrote:
>>    
>>
>>>ok, I was recently handed a nice assignment, but I am not entirely sure
>>>how to proceed with it.
>>>
>>>the scenario is this:
>>>
>>>a small cybercafe setup with 4 windows client machines hooked into a
>>>linux backend machine (to act as printserver and accounting). this in
>>>turn is hooked into a BSD firewall/bridging router.
>>>
>>>now. the other things I can handle, its the linux print server/accounting
>>>box I am going to have a problem with.
>>>
>>>what I need is an accounting package that can account for time online of
>>>specified users on each box, and to account also for how many pages each
>>>one sends to the printer (the data collected and sent to another box
>>>where it can be rung up as a cash register).
>>>
>>>since I am not entirely sure I am explaining this completely, I may need
>>>some specified questions asked.
>>>
>>>can anyone help?
>>>
>>>TMH
>>>623-849-9515
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