7 Best Open Source Network Monitoring Tools – ExterNetworks

How much time do you spend monitoring your servers? If you answered yes, you might want to check out these Open Source Network Monitoring. They allow you to monitor your network traffic and alert you whenever something goes wrong. Network monitoring tools are essential for every IT admin because they provide real-time visibility into the health of your network infrastructure.

These tools also allow you to troubleshoot issues before they become serious problems. Network monitoring tools come in various forms, from simple web-based dashboards to full-blown enterprise solutions. The key thing to remember is that each tool has its strengths and weaknesses.

What is Network Monitoring?

Network monitoring collects data from servers, routers, firewalls, switches, etc. The goal is to detect intrusions into networks, identify vulnerabilities, and prevent attacks. Network monitoring can be performed manually or automatically.

Manual network monitoring requires someone to examine each device on the network physically. It involves identifying devices, determining what they do, and analyzing logs to see if anything suspicious has happened. This method is labor-intensive and prone to errors.

Automatic network monitoring uses software to monitor a network’s activity. It typically does this by examining traffic between devices to detect anomalies.

Why is Network Monitoring So Important?

The Internet is an open system that allows people to communicate with one another in many different ways. However, it also makes it easy for hackers to break into computers connected to the Internet. Hackers are constantly trying to find new ways of breaking into computer systems. One way they try to gain access is through malicious software. Malware includes viruses, worms, Trojans, spyware, adware, keyloggers, rootkits, dialers, and other forms of malicious code.

Malware may steal personal information, damage files, corrupt programs, or even delete critical parts of a computer’s operating system. Organizations must continuously monitor their networks to protect against these types of threats and ensure that no unauthorized users or connections are allowed to enter their networks.

Network security solutions such as firewalls, intrusion detection systems (IDS), and antivirus software help prevent attacks by blocking malicious code from entering your network. These tools also monitor traffic within your network to detect any suspicious activity. If malware does manage to sneak into your network, the IDS alerts you so you can take action immediately.

Benefits of Using a Network Monitoring Solution?

A network monitoring solution allows you to collect data from multiple devices on your network. With this data, you’ll be able to analyze it to determine if any changes have taken place. A network monitoring solution lets you view detailed reports to compare Network performance issues over time.

There are several benefits to using a network monitoring solution:

It helps you keep track of all your network devices, and you’ll know exactly which ones are working correctly and which ones aren’t.

• Quickly spot potential problems before they become serious issues.
• Easily identify any changes that occur on your network.
• Alerted when there are any unusual activities taking place.
• Notified about any potential security breaches.
• Able to view detailed reports that show how your network is performing at any given time.

Key Features of Network Monitoring Tools

Here are some essential features of network monitoring tools:

Real-time alerting – Alerts you whenever there is something wrong with your network.

Detailed reporting – allows you to create custom reports based on specific criteria.

Customizable – Customize the look and feel of the tool to suit your needs.

Easy to install – Installing a network monitoring tool takes less than 5 minutes.

7 Open Source Network Monitoring Tools

These tools usually offer support in articles and forums, and they can also assist businesses by providing customizations or improvements. There are many free, open source monitoring solutions available, and this means there is no cost associated with using these tools. However, if you want to use extra features or add functionality, you may need to pay a fee. Some of the most popular open-source network monitoring tools include:

• Nagios
• Zabbix
• Cacti
• Zenoss
• Munin
• Netflow
• Wireshark

This section aims to give you an idea of what free network monitoring software looks like and the top 7 open-source network monitoring tools. It doesn’t mean that we recommend any of them, and we just wanted to share our experience with you.

Nagios core

Nagios core is one of the free open-source network monitoring tools around. It was originally designed to monitor Unix servers, and today, it supports Windows Servers. Nagios core provides real-time alerts, customizable graphs, and detailed reports.

Zenoss

Zenoss is another great Open source monitoring tool. It offers similar features to Nagios, but it’s more focused on Linux servers, and it includes advanced graphing capabilities, SNMP traps, and much more.

Cacti

Cacti is another powerful network monitoring tool, and it works well with both Linux and Windows Servers. It comes with many useful features such as SNMP traps, email MP traps, and a web interface.

Zabbix

Zabbix is another open source tool that focuses on providing accurate information. It’s best suited for large networks, and it provides real-time alerts and details, and much more. You can easily set up Zabbix within 30 minutes.

Munin

Munin is a network monitoring tool that monitors Linux systems. It’s pretty simple to set up. You don’t have to be a programmer to get started, and it’s a good choice for beginners.

NetFlow

NetFlow is a network flow analysis tool. It analyzes all the packets flowing through the network devices. It’s best suited when trying to find out how much bandwidth each device uses.

Wireshark

Wireshark is an excellent tool for network troubleshooting. It quickly detects network issues such as latency, suspicious activity, or dropped packets. It can also drill down into the traffic to see the root cause of an error. Usually, network administrators will use Wireshark to solve latency problems caused by routing devices. Administrators should be familiar with the basic concepts of IP protocol and DHCP before using this tool.

How to Choose Open-Source Network Monitoring Tools

Here are some things to consider when choosing an opensource network management tool.

Cost: Most of the open-source network monitoring tools are free. However, there are paid options available. Some of these tools cost thousands of dollars. So make sure you know exactly what you need before deciding on a network monitoring tool.

Monitoring type: There are two main types of network monitoring tools. Passive and Active Network Monitoring Tools. Passive network monitoring tools only collect data once something goes wrong, and they do not send alerts until something happens. On the other hand, active network monitoring tools constantly check for problems and provide real-time alerts and detailed reports.

Support: When choosing an open-source network monitoring tool, look at the support options. Many of the top tools offer support through their online communities. Make sure they support your operating system. Many tools work with multiple platforms. Test it first.

Security: The security of your network is extremely important. Choose a network monitoring tool that is secure. Look for SSL encryption, or even better, use a VPN connection.

Availability: A lot of people rely on their network for business. Make sure you pick a network monitoring tool that works well in case of power loss or an internet outage.

In-Conclusion, If you’re looking for an easy way to monitor your networks, then open-source network monitoring and management tools may be what you need. These tools are often less expensive or in most cases free than commercial alternatives. Opensource software is challenging to install and configure, but this isn’t always true. Some of the most popular open-source applications are simple to set up and manage.