Network Mapping with PRTG

Need automated, always-current Layer 2 topology? Add Paessler PRTG UVexplorer

The PRTG map editor gives you full control to build exactly the maps and dashboards you want. But hand-placing devices doesn't scale for large or fast-changing networks, and a diagram is only useful if it reflects what's actually connected. 

That's where Paessler PRTG UVexplorer comes in. It's a Paessler product that works alongside PRTG and automatically discovers and maps your Layer 2 and Layer 3 topology down to the port level using SNMP, WMI, and SSH. Your maps build themselves and stay current through scheduled discoveries. No manual tracing, no stale Visio files. 

It also adds the context monitoring alone can't give you: click any device on the topology map and immediately see what's upstream (the potential cause) and what's downstream (the blast radius). So when an alert fires in PRTG, you can tell what's affected in seconds instead of tracing it by hand. And that dependency view is surfaced directly inside PRTG, so you don't switch tools mid-incident. 

Because it works through scheduled discoveries and point-in-time snapshots, Paessler PRTG UVexplorer also keeps a record of how your topology and device configurations change over time. Compare any two config versions side by side in the built-in diff viewer and answer "what changed before this incident?" without guesswork. 

→ See how Paessler PRTG UVexplorer adds automated topology and dependency context to PRTG

Drag & drop map editor with integrated monitoring

After the automatic network discovery detects new devices in your subnet – switches, routers, firewalls, servers and applications, storage systems and virtual servers – you can quickly integrate everything into structured network maps and enjoy the benefits of graphical network monitoring.

It's easy! Just use the built-in drag & drop map editor which comes with a large number of device and status icons, symbols, images, and much more out-of-the-box. Or use custom HTML to generate multi-layer maps so that you can drill down through multiple layers to quickly identify the root cause of an issue.

Need fully automated Layer 2 maps, or maps with a large number of devices? Paessler PRTG UVexplorer discovers and maps your topology automatically and surfaces it inside PRTG — see how it works on our dedicated Paessler PRTG UVexplorer page.

The Sunburst view: your network status at a glance

In addition to easy-to-read maps that you can easily create from scratch, PRTG offers monitoring capabilities which you won't find in other, pure network scanning and mapping tools. PRTG maps and dashboards not only show devices and their physical and logical connections, but also deliver actionable information on their status. This makes network device management effortless.

Clear color coding enables you to quickly see your network's status at one glance. What's more: all map items are interactive and clickable for faster troubleshooting. You can even add custom background images such as a floor plan to show each device’s location.

A great visibility option: the PRTG Sunburst view shows you your entire network and its current status in almost real-time.

Network diagrams: customize for any audience

The PRTG map editor makes it easy to create high-level status dashboards for the management or detailed dashboards with more in-depth information for your colleagues.

For example, create a custom-tailored map for the system administrator that shows all network devices, their status, and their exact location in the building 

Or create a map for the IT manager that shows the status of your entire network at one glance in a kind of bird's-eye view – to also support your reporting visually.

The flexible, easy-to use map editor of PRTG makes everyone's job easier.

Network mapping combined with unified monitoring

The PRTG network mapping solution is also a powerful, all-in-one monitoring tool.

Over 500,000 administrators worldwide use PRTG to monitor their server performance, LAN, virtual environments, the accessibility of their websites, and more. PRTG is the best network analysis solution and performance monitoring tool for Windows and supports all important protocols like SNMP, NetFlow, WMI, or Packet Sniffing.

Even the free trial edition of PRTG includes all network scanning and mapping features.

Shareable dashboards: grant private or public access

Each created dashboard has a unique URL that you can use for internal or external access.

Publish the dashboard internally for colleagues or the management team, or to show it on network operation center screens.

You can also make the dashboard publicly available using a public URL, or integrate it directly into other web pages via iFrame.