Network monitoring and server analysis with open source 43 free tools for network monitoring
28.10.2021
Author / editor: Thomas Joos / Dipl.-Ing.(FH) Andreas Donner
With open source tools and small free tools, networks, servers and workloads can be effectively monitored.We present some helpful tools.
Two areas play an important role in monitoring networks.On the one hand, network traffic must be monitored, while on the other hand, tools are monitored by tools server services, devices and computers in the network.In the following article we present 43 tools for monitoring.In addition, links to complementary texts can be found in the article, in which we present other tools that also play an important role in the analysis of network.
Picture gallery
Picture gallery mit 10 Bildern
Overview of free network monitoring tools
With open source tools, like Wireshark, data traffic in the network can be monitored, i.e. the packages that are sent in the network.We looked at Wireshark in more detail in the article "Network monitoring and analysis in practice" and explain how to use the free tool with you.The contribution "First steps with Wireshark" also takes up this topic.Tools such as Grafana, Cacti or Nagios in turn enable the monitoring of devices in the network.
Together with network analysis tools, data traffic in the network can be monitored as well as the individual servers and network devices as well as their function.Icinga is also one of the network monitoring tools that administrators should know.With Zabbix, virtual environments can be effectively monitored.
Tools such as NMAP and Zenmap also help to keep the network under control.Nmap discovers, for example.Data traffic in the network as well as open ports.Observium can monitor hardware devices, for example from Cisco, HP or Juniper.The devices are automatically recognized and connected to the monitoring.
We took a closer look.The article "The 10 best free network tools for Mac OS X" names tools with which networks can be monitored under MacOS.If you are looking for free tools to monitor networks and also want to include freeware in the search, you should take a closer look.
Finnix, Grml, Netdata and Co use for analysis and surveillance
In the article "Finnix and GRML-Linux rescue CDS for admins" we show two Linux distributions that can be started live, and with which admins can save data, but also monitor networks.
In this context, the article "NetData: Network Analysis for Linux, MacOS and FreeBSD" also plays a role.Here, too, we go into the analysis and monitoring of networks with free tools.
The article "7 Tools for the performance measurement in the network" shows other tools with which users and admins can also monitor the current performance of the network free of charge, on servers and at work stations.
In the article "Network monitoring with ping tools" we show other tools that also enable free monitoring of networks with simple means.
"This is how network monitoring with NTOPNG" also shows a free and powerful tool for network monitoring, as well as "The Dude-Free Network Analysis Tool".
And "10 tools for troubleshooting with command line and PowerShell" also gives tips on how admins with PowerShell and command line, partly with on -board, networks can analyze free of charge and find errors on the devices.
In this context, the text "This is how you test connections and follow routes".The tools in this article are irreplaceable for monitoring and troubleshooting.
Anyone who monitors and analyzes networks must of course also take care of the network devices.In the article "Freeware and Open Source Monitoring tools" we deepen this topic.The article "How to monitor Linux and Windows servers in the network" is specifically on the possibility of monitoring server services on Windows and Linux servers in the network.
Angry IP Scanner - network monitoring for Windows, Linux and MacOS
Angry IP Scanner is a simple surveillance tool for networks that is available for Windows, Linux and MacOS.The tool builds on Java.This means that Java 8 must be available on the computer on which Angry IP scanner is to be started.The installation can be carried out on the basis of OpenJDK.The main task of Angry IP Scanner is to search individual IP areas for devices.Started devices that the tool finds are displayed in the window.
If the name resolution is configured, Angry IP Scanner also shows the host name for the IP address.Via the context menu, individual devices can also be scanned according to open ports and current data.The columns that are displayed in the tool can be controlled via the menu items "Tools \ fetcher".This can, for example, determine which MAC address belongs to a device and which other services are active on the corresponding computer or network device.
Advanced IP Scanner - Network also without installation
Advanced IP Scanner is not an open source solution, but is available as freeware.The tool is particularly suitable for displaying Windows working stations or Windows servers from information about the devices in the network.The tool shows names of the computers found, IP address and further information such as manufacturers or Mac address.
The tool can be started without installation.To do this, only the "Run" option must be selected when calling up the installation program.Then the network can be checked using the "Scan" button.In addition, Advanced IP Scanner also shows shares and open ports as well as the associated services.These can also be opened directly from the tool by double -clicking.
Picture gallery
Picture gallery mit 10 Bildern
Librenms - monitoring also with smartphones
Librenms is an open source network monitoring system that can also graphically prepare the determined network data.In addition, the tool has a warning system that can also be used together with other tools.Librenms can be controlled with apps via Android and iPhone.
Monitor Pandora FMS sensors
Pandora FMS is an extensive open source monitoring tool.In addition to functions for network monitoring, Windows and Linux servers as well as virtual interfaces can also be monitored.In addition, Pandora FMS ICMP-Polling, SNMP support, monitoring of network cladding and system utilization offers.Administrators can also install agents on the devices to sensors for BSPW.To monitor the device temperature and overheating or other areas on the computers.
Prometheus -data acquisition and analysis
Prometheus has focused on data acquisition and analysis.The tool can collect information about devices with SNMP pings and examine the use of the network bandwidth from a device perspective, among other things.The system analyzes data and enables diagrams, tables and other visual representations of the monitored systems to be generated.
Graphite - monitoring with time series
Graphite is a monitoring system that can be used to monitor networks and stores its data in time series, similar to Prometheus and Grafana.The system is under the Apache-2.0 license available as an open source.The advantage of graphite is that the data can also be displayed with on -board funds as a diagram.The graphics of the tool are superior to other tools in this article.If you want to grasp time series in the network and simply want to prepare the data graphically, you should definitely take a closer look at Graphite's possibilities.Provision is much easier than with other systems.
For example, Graphite records the network performance in monitoring.The platform then shows this data for the users on a dashboard.Graphite is one of the most used open source tool for network monitoring.The extension of graphite by additional functions such as team accounts, granular dashboard permissions, AWS integration, heroku integration, protocol tools and other agents is not a problem.
Monitorix
Monitorix is a network monitoring solution for Linux.The system creates diagrams and records the network use of the integrated nodes.The solution is mainly due to network failures and long response times.The solution works similarly to Nagios and Zabbix, but is not as extensive.
The task of Monitorix is to monitor as many services and system resources as possible.The tool was developed for use on productive Linux/Unix servers, but can also be used on embedded devices due to its simplicity and small size.
The tool consists, among other things, a collector called "Monitorix".The Perl-Daemon includes its own HTTP server to display the statistical graphics.The standard address is: http: // localhost: 8080/monitorix.
Monitorix was originally aligned for the monitoring of Red Hat, Fedora and Centos-Linux systems.In the meantime, the system also runs on other Linux systems such as FreeBSD, OpenBSD and NetBSD.
Editor's note: This post was on 14.04.First published in 2020 and on 28.10.2021 completely revised and comprehensively supplemented again published.
(ID: 46408319)
