The best free network monitoring software (open source): This article discusses the top free tools for network monitoring so you can identify and resolve network issues before they escalate into serious problems.
Network monitoring is one of the toughest challenges faced by network administrators or IT professionals. It is a crucial process in the IT field where administrators continuously monitor various network components, such as firewalls, servers, virtual devices, and switches, for failures to ensure optimal performance and availability. This monitoring task helps organizations of all sizes and sectors enhance their online presence. The best free network monitoring software can assist you in performing this function more efficiently and effectively.
With the help of the best network monitoring tools, you can proactively identify and resolve network issues, helping to prevent future outages.
However, the best network monitoring tools on the market often come with a hefty price tag. Therefore, we delved into the world of network monitoring tools and found some effective, cost-efficient, and feature-rich free and open-source software for network monitoring.
Before we review this list of monitoring tools, let’s take a look at the essential features you should consider when choosing a tool. Knowing what to look for in network monitoring software will help you select the best option for your needs.
Essential Features of the Best Free Network Monitoring Software
Here are some key features that should be present in the best free open-source network monitoring tools.
The ability to perform automatic network monitoring.
A device discovery routine to automatically create an asset inventory.
Alerts when any issues occur.
Displays the live status of each device with network mapping service.
Communicates with network devices via SNMP.
Now, let’s take a look at the best free network monitoring tools that include all or most of the features mentioned above.
Top Free Network Monitoring Software (Open Source)
Here are our top picks when it comes to selecting the best free network monitoring software.
1. SolarWinds ipMonitor
Let’s start our list of the best free network monitoring software with SolarWinds ipMonitor. It’s a highly attractive option if you want to monitor no more than 50 interfaces.
Ideal for small businesses, SolarWinds ipMonitor offers a high-quality user experience. Additionally, the following features contribute to making it one of the best network monitoring tools.
Key Features of SolarWinds ipMonitor
Lightweight, fast, and easy to use.
Ability to monitor network devices and servers from a central location.
System issue alerts.
Tracks the status of network devices.
Discovers devices connected to your network.
Automatically creates a network topology map based on aggregated devices.
2. Network Bandwidth Analyzer
Next on our list is Network Bandwidth Analyzer, one of the best network monitoring tools. It helps you reduce network downtime by quickly detecting, diagnosing, and resolving network performance issues.
Additionally, features like easy viewing of IPv6 and IPv4 flow logs are also reasons for including this software in our list. Furthermore, here are some other noteworthy features of this program.
Key Features of Network Bandwidth Analyzer
Easy monitoring of Juniper J-Flow, IPFIX, Huawei NetStream, and Cisco NetFlow data to identify bandwidth-hungry applications and protocols.
Alerts you about changes in application traffic activity.
Sends an alert if the network monitoring software is not sharing network performance data.
Collects traffic data and converts it into a usable format.
Supports VMware vSphere Switch.
Features support for Cisco NBAR2.
Easy to create schedules and provide in-depth reports on bandwidth usage and network traffic analysis.
Supports monitoring and managing wireless networks.
Enhances CBQoS policy to measure the effectiveness of traffic levels before and after the policy.
3. Paessler PRTG Network Monitor
We have Paessler PRTG Network Monitor in third place on our list of the best free network monitoring software. It’s a user-friendly, feature-rich, and fast program you can use to scan connected devices by IP range (saving you time from configuring everything manually).
Speaking of features, here’s what makes Paessler PRTG Network Monitor one of the best network monitoring tools.
Key Features of Paessler PRTG Network Monitor
Automatic network discovery.
Status error alerts.
Capable of monitoring wireless networks.
Monitors networks, applications, traffic, and cloud.
Color-coded and user-friendly interface.
Monitors internet connections between sites and remote locations.
Drag-and-drop editor for creating custom reports and views effortlessly.
Integration with third-party applications like Slack.
4. Zabbix
We can’t overlook Zabbix when discussing the best free open-source network monitoring software. It uses historical data to predict future behavior. Moreover, this program provides valuable information such as network usage, disk space consumption, and CPU load.
Furthermore, the automatic discovery of device configuration changes and the following features make Zabbix one of the best free network monitoring tools.
Key Features of Zabbix
Flexible and scalable Windows data collection.
Multiple protocols and methods for collecting metrics.
Easy monitoring of network bandwidth usage.
Automatic discovery of networks within the jurisdiction of Zabbix agents.
Supports both SNMP protocol and protocol agents.
Mobile app availability and multiple templates.
Automatic detection of device configuration changes.
Predicts bandwidth usage trends, network downtime, and more.
Active detection of anomalies in network connectivity.
Generates custom scripts for report processing.
Event correlation feature to reduce notification noise.
Custom escalation scenarios.
5. Nagios Core
Next, we would like to name Nagios Core as one of the best free open-source network monitoring software. The most appealing aspect of this program is its user interface, which adheres to a basic design and a web-based graphical user interface to help you analyze the status of key services and network infrastructure effortlessly.
Moreover, you should check out the following features of this program before deciding to download it.
Key Features of Nagios Core
Powerful Nagios Core 4 monitoring engine to ensure top-notch monitoring server performance.
Robust dashboards for monitoring third-party data and information.
Its graphical user interface allows for customization, design, and preferences.
Enables you to easily view and resolve network issues.
The dashboard provides a customizable overview of network devices, hosts, and services.
Automated and integrated graphs for capacity planning.
Many infrastructure management tools, such as bulk acknowledgment, automatic shutdown, etc.
Configuration snapshots feature to save, archive, and restore configurations.
Conclusion
In this article, we explored the best free network monitoring software (open source). You can review the mentioned programs and compare their features with your requirements to choose the best one.
If you think our list of the best free network monitoring tools has overlooked any deserving software, feel free to mention it in the comments section. Also, share your thoughts on this article through the comments.
