PRTG Network Monitor Freeware
Paessler AG | PRTG 24.2.94.1400Windows, Windows Server 2022 Base 1809 - 64-bit Amazon Machine Image (AMI)
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PRTG - Customizeable Monitoring Solution
What do you like best about the product?
PRTG is a very dynamic network monitoring solution that allows the administrator to deeply monitor every device on their network. Anything from disk space, to memory, to logs. PRTG allows the administrator to pick and choose what they want to monitor based on their needs, and set it up to send out email/text alerts to their sys admins in order to prevent downtime in their environments.
What do you dislike about the product?
The functionality of PRTG is pretty fantastic. I honestly don't have too many complaints. I suppose the only suggestions that I would make would be to clean up the GUI a little bit, as some views are 'linear', and can blend together. Making a slightly more friendly user interface would really be the only improvement I can see (Atleast for my needs).
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
We use this solution as a network monitor to monitor all of our servers. We maintain a large environment that serves thousands of clients, so maintaining uptime is key. This product allows us to keep an eye on all of our servers, and prevent downtime by being alerted to any potential issues.
Recommendations to others considering the product:
This product is a robust and customizeable tool for network monitoring, and can be configured for just about any environment and solution.
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Makes you look much smarter then you are
What do you like best about the product?
It has absolutely every sensor you could think of, let's you add your own if need be, and the dashboard map looks absolutely great on our large TV in the office. Our users think we're IT gods when they come in to the office and see our PRTG monitor.
What do you dislike about the product?
Creating the maps is a bit clunky but you get the hang of it.
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
The main one would be responsiveness to issues. We immediately see when network links to other buildings are down, services on servers have stopped, pings are high, etc and can deal with issues before users are calling us.
Recommendations to others considering the product:
Seems like it might work best in a Microsoft environment. Unsure how well it would work in a *nix environment.
My favorite software at the office.
What do you like best about the product?
System Administrators live in a world of fixing broken, intermittent, and/or frequently ambiguous problems. Therefore, when there's a system that works flawlessly without needing repeated maintenance, we take notice.
PRTG is the most reliable and low maintenance software we have in the office, and we love it. We lean on PRTG frequently to help us identify and resolve issues on other systems. PRTG makes it extremely easy to do so, and we are continuously grateful to have a network monitor that never creates additional work for us, and only ever makes our jobs easier =]
Functionality wise: Out of the box, PRTG monitors just about everything. We had this watching critical components of over 50 servers within an hour. For those things that PRTG miraculously does not support out of the box, they have an EXCELLENT API where you can create and integrate your own custom sensors (powershell, bat, or exe) with ease. We've used this to watch storage pool health, virtual disk health, even the number of CDs and DVDs in our disk printing robot.
Not only can you use powershell and such for custom sensors, you can even run these scripts and programs as custom "notifications". You set up a custom notification to run in response to a certain event (remote desktop unresponsive on server X), and when that event occurs, PRTG can run your script (restart server X) automatically. We've used this on our failover node to restart dell sonicwall whenever it feels like not working (which is rather frequent).
In short, not only is PRTG a monitoring tool, you can also use it as a self-repair tool for your networks and systems.
PRTG is the most reliable and low maintenance software we have in the office, and we love it. We lean on PRTG frequently to help us identify and resolve issues on other systems. PRTG makes it extremely easy to do so, and we are continuously grateful to have a network monitor that never creates additional work for us, and only ever makes our jobs easier =]
Functionality wise: Out of the box, PRTG monitors just about everything. We had this watching critical components of over 50 servers within an hour. For those things that PRTG miraculously does not support out of the box, they have an EXCELLENT API where you can create and integrate your own custom sensors (powershell, bat, or exe) with ease. We've used this to watch storage pool health, virtual disk health, even the number of CDs and DVDs in our disk printing robot.
Not only can you use powershell and such for custom sensors, you can even run these scripts and programs as custom "notifications". You set up a custom notification to run in response to a certain event (remote desktop unresponsive on server X), and when that event occurs, PRTG can run your script (restart server X) automatically. We've used this on our failover node to restart dell sonicwall whenever it feels like not working (which is rather frequent).
In short, not only is PRTG a monitoring tool, you can also use it as a self-repair tool for your networks and systems.
What do you dislike about the product?
If I was to have to name anything I'm not a huge fan of, here's a couple:
- PRTG doesn't use any sort of standard database, to my knowledge. It DOES supply a web API where you can request a lot of data like it, but if you're more of a database guy than web guy, this isn't super ideal.
- PRTG has options to use the built in SMTP client or an SMTP relay. I'm not positive that the built-in client is totally reliable, and it could be challenging to configure relays in a multi-site environment.
- PRTG doesn't use any sort of standard database, to my knowledge. It DOES supply a web API where you can request a lot of data like it, but if you're more of a database guy than web guy, this isn't super ideal.
- PRTG has options to use the built in SMTP client or an SMTP relay. I'm not positive that the built-in client is totally reliable, and it could be challenging to configure relays in a multi-site environment.
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
Network Monitoring (we know when something goes down)
Hardware Baselining (we know when something's not acting normally)
Self Repairing (bonus item, but PRTG can be used to take action in attempt to fix certain problems)
Hardware Baselining (we know when something's not acting normally)
Self Repairing (bonus item, but PRTG can be used to take action in attempt to fix certain problems)
Recommendations to others considering the product:
Fantastic company, great product. We've had good relations with support, however be aware that with the company based in Germany, support experiences some delay due to translation and time differences.
Excellent software
What do you like best about the product?
he software is very easy to use and stable. It does everything I'd like it to do and more
What do you dislike about the product?
There are ads in the newer versions which I'm not really a fan of, but it doesn't interfere with using the software
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
Server, network and application monitoring. We are notified of issues early and can respond quickly.
Damn Good Monitoring
What do you like best about the product?
You can monitor ANYTHING. The basic monitoring is easy to setup and get working fast. Once you spend some extra time learning, you begin to see the wide range of possibilities. The support forums are fantastic, I can usually find the answer to a question in a few minutes of searching. Additionally, the licensing is designed for the current world... based on sensors, not monitoring stations.
Maps are a great method for allowing end users\Management to visualize the current situation.
Maps are a great method for allowing end users\Management to visualize the current situation.
What do you dislike about the product?
If you haven't used a monitoring solution before, there is a bit of a learning curve. (Well worth the effort)
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
PRTG was a major turning point for moving from a Reactive IT to a Proactive IT. The number of issues our external clients see has dramatically dropped over the past year.
The best solution for monitoring your network
What do you like best about the product?
With this software I can monitor different kind of devices: Microsoft Windows and Linux servers, switches, firewall, UPS, SMS gateway, printers, VMware infrastructures, ecc... it is very stable and it allows to have remote probe for monitoring devices on a remote network without using a VPN.
What do you dislike about the product?
I don’t like that you can install it only on Windows server.
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
I can receive in real time notifications about problems on my devices. You can use a mobile APP, integrate the server with a custom SMS gateway and receive allarms also when the e-mail server is down. It is very flexible.
One of my prefer monitoring tool
What do you like best about the product?
It has a excellent structured network element view. Its join performance data and alerts in a perfect couple. It lets you search in historical data an specific value of your interest, changing in live, 2 days, 30 days and 365 days views. We use additionally maps, where we can set multiple and different sensors configuration including: chatrs, top 10, speedometers, and much more.
What do you dislike about the product?
If you would like to get additional functions in Enterprise Console, redirects you to web console. It neither make any problems
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
We are able to make deep network fail analysis, comparing traffic behavior during weeks
Recommendations to others considering the product:
Its an exellent monitoring tool and I hope you could try it.
PRTG: A very easier to monitor networks
What do you like best about the product?
The best things in PRTG are adding sensors, setting alarms, monitor bandwidth utilization and the most important thing is generating reports. Report is generating correctly (Day/Weekly/Monthly) which I am showing presentation to my Managers which is my favourite and able to win my Managers confidence.
What do you dislike about the product?
As of now, I didn't find any difficulties because my requirement is fulfilled that I have and If I am facing any difficulty then PRTG support team helps me.
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
The Latest version of PRTG Dashboard visibility is very clear and easy to monitor the sensors UP/Down status.
Lot of features are there to solve with PRTG are to monitor the bandwidth utilization, Network/Server uptime status by using SNMP System Uptime sensor.
I would like to say honestly, This PRTG Network Monitor helps me a lot. I am the only person to handle L1/L2/L3 in my company. I have 16 branches which was not easy to monitor the network. Then I started PRTG free monitoring tools, which was feel very easier to monitor networks. I recommended to my manager that I need license version of PRTG Network Monitor. Now, I am using license version.
Lot of features are there to solve with PRTG are to monitor the bandwidth utilization, Network/Server uptime status by using SNMP System Uptime sensor.
I would like to say honestly, This PRTG Network Monitor helps me a lot. I am the only person to handle L1/L2/L3 in my company. I have 16 branches which was not easy to monitor the network. Then I started PRTG free monitoring tools, which was feel very easier to monitor networks. I recommended to my manager that I need license version of PRTG Network Monitor. Now, I am using license version.
The best product for up and running quickly!
What do you like best about the product?
As the title states, it's easy to get up and running quickly. I got a good network picture in about 15 minutes, and then started whittling things down. It's lightweight and responsive. Very minor network impact and isn't taxing to the host system. The info can be displayed in various coarse ways, each one dramatically different from the previous one, or you can make your own more subtle changes. The dark skin of the web interface makes a dramatic impression on visitors. Web interface is fast! Automated ticketing system and alerts works great. Once you get it tuned, there's 0 false alarms, and you'll get notifications if the alarm clears before you can remediate.
What do you dislike about the product?
Green color of things in threshold needs to be more... green. Like #7CFC00 green. Right now it's kinda #ADFF2F. Maybe a color picker wheel? PRTG ads on the screen are cheap. Licensing for more sensors seems to ramp up quickly = $$$. But I'm a cheapskate and can run my flat little /24 with 100 sensors and have some to spare.
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
The ability to monitor far endpoints and the history of network health, which has allowed me to beat up our ISP for crappy service. Also, I can immediately look at switch flows from a central point, without having to remember an old password on an obscure switch. This lets me focus on another ISP issue or drill down to the closet. We have a very good idea of what our network stressors are, and gives us clear metrics for expansion.
Recommendations to others considering the product:
Do it! It's really easy to do. Fairly intuitive interface, and stellar product support. Most of the time I can fix it myself as CS gets back to me in 24 hrs. or less. I have mine set up "just right" and I really don't mess with it anymore, unless we bring something new online, or I need to troubleshoot something with a battery of sensors deployed like Imperial Probe Droids.
PRTG - Excellent Network Monitoring with a generous full featured free version
What do you like best about the product?
Free version allows you 100 sensors, with all features enabled.
Server hardware health and alerting via iLO/DRAC
VMWare host health checks and alerting
VMWare guest health and alerting (including storage latency and CPU)
Mobile app provides charts and status from anywhere
Down sensors can be "acknowledged" which lets other techs know the issue is being handled.
Predictive metrics determine "this sensor is unusually low for this day of the week" feature has actually turned up several backup failures and switching issues I'd missed because they were working nominally.
Round trip email (SMTP send through gmail -> deliver to another server -> POP3 receive) is a lifesaver to tell me Exchange is TRULY working.
Reports allow for billing of colocated services
Server hardware health and alerting via iLO/DRAC
VMWare host health checks and alerting
VMWare guest health and alerting (including storage latency and CPU)
Mobile app provides charts and status from anywhere
Down sensors can be "acknowledged" which lets other techs know the issue is being handled.
Predictive metrics determine "this sensor is unusually low for this day of the week" feature has actually turned up several backup failures and switching issues I'd missed because they were working nominally.
Round trip email (SMTP send through gmail -> deliver to another server -> POP3 receive) is a lifesaver to tell me Exchange is TRULY working.
Reports allow for billing of colocated services
What do you dislike about the product?
Takes time to make the system really smart:
- you only get alerts if there's a real outage (sounds like a feature not a bug)
- Sensors don't have pre-set thresholds set to warn you of unusual levels. So you have to say "I want to know about storage latency above 50 ms" and things like that which are not outages but still require attention
Maps and graphical environment has to be made by hand. It's actually not bad, just takes time.
- you only get alerts if there's a real outage (sounds like a feature not a bug)
- Sensors don't have pre-set thresholds set to warn you of unusual levels. So you have to say "I want to know about storage latency above 50 ms" and things like that which are not outages but still require attention
Maps and graphical environment has to be made by hand. It's actually not bad, just takes time.
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
Network connection down monitoring - I can sleep at night
VMWare host health monitoring - I can sleep at night
VMWare guest monitoring - I can sleep at night
VMWare host health monitoring - I can sleep at night
VMWare guest monitoring - I can sleep at night
Recommendations to others considering the product:
Try the 100 sensor version first, then point it to your most critical systems.
Learn how to use the MIB builder application and generate the MIBS for your particular hardware.
You will be amazed how well this works.
Learn how to use the MIB builder application and generate the MIBS for your particular hardware.
You will be amazed how well this works.
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