Linux Network Monitoring

Monitoring Linux systems was already possible in earlier versions of PRTG (an "SNMP daemon", such as net-SNMP had to be installed on the machines). In version 8, PRTG now monitors Linux systems using dedicated sensors supporting Linux/Unix without the need to install or change anything on the target machines.

Linux Network Monitoring using new sensor types

Using the technologies SSH or WBEM, PRTG requests information about CPU load, memory status or hard disks directly from the systems. The sensor types for Linux network monitoring are:

• Load Average Sensor: monitors the load average of a Linux/Unix system using Secure Shell (SSH) or Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP).
• Meminfo Sensor: monitors the available memory in total and in percent using SSH or SNMP.
• Disk Free Sensor: monitors the free disk space available. It shows the total free disk space (sum), and the free disk space in percent for every mounted partition (volume) using SSH or SNMP.
• SNMP Traffic Sensor: monitors traffic on a device using Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP).
• WBEM Custom: Supports custom queries via WBEM.

When SSH is used, the data is sent via a secure connection, ensuring you do not compromise the security of your systems while transferring monitoring data via the network.

PRTG is More Than a Linux Network Monitor

Monitoring the network is easy using PRTG. The network monitoring solutions allow you to monitor exchange, file servers, web servers, etc. Whether you need to implement event monitoring for a small home network or a large enterprise, PRTG is the right solution for you. You can monitor Log (Application, Security, System) for specific events. And CPU monitoring helps you to keep control of the loads that your servers and workstations are subject to, helping you to distribute loads more evenly, and increase network speed and performance.

PRTG Network Monitor

Paessler's Linux network monitoring tool PRTG is available in two editions. For basic average load monitoring and to monitor CPU load on Linux, the Network management freeware may be downloaded and used for personal and commercial use completely free of charge. Need more sensors to monitor a larger IT infrastructure? See our commercial licenses here.

We call them "Linux sensors" in short, but the SSH sensors also support Mac OS X, so you can now easily integrate Macintosh monitoring into PRTG. And With WMI monitoring (Windows Management Instrumentation) Windows offers enhanced options for managing Windows based systems.