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  1. Home>
  2. IT Topics>
  3. Technology>
  4. Free Syslog Server

Free Syslog Server PRTG

A single solution to monitor syslog messages and your entire network

  • Capture and analyze syslog messages
  • Get real-time alerts of errors and incidents
  • Monitor & optimize network performance
Free download
PRODUCT OVERVIEW

Our Users Give Top Ratings for Monitoring With Paessler PRTG

Gartner peer insights
spiceworks
G2
Capterra

PRTG syslog server: What you will find on this page

Table of content

    PRTG makes syslog message monitoring as easy as it gets

    Custom alerts and data visualization let you quickly identify and prevent critical events in your network.

    Free download
    PRODUCT OVERVIEW

    How PRTG works as a syslog server

    PRTG captures, processes, and analyzes essential data.

    Capture & display

    As soon as PRTG receives syslog messages, PRTG syslog receiver displays all relevant information: including the IP address that the message was sent from, the time stamp of the message, and the message itself.

    Process & analyze

    As a syslog server, PRTG analyzes the severity level of receive syslog messages to check for potential emergencies, ranging from 0 (emergency) to 7 (debug). PRTG even reads and processes the facility code so that you can immediately identify the type of message that was sent.

    Table of content

    Free server monitoring vs. licensed editions

    icon money

    Server monitoring freeware

    • 100 sensors free for life
    • For each device about 10 sensors required
    • 100 sensors often suffice for basic server monitoring
    • Alarm, mapping, and report features included
    • Freeware edition sufficient for most small networks
    icon finance

    PRTG licenses

    • Flexible licenses with 500 to 10,000 sensors
    • Monitor 50 to 1,000 devices or more
    • Easily upgrade if more sensors are required
    • Existing monitoring unchanged with upgrade
    • Try full version free for 30 days

    What PRTG as a syslog server looks like

    Diagnose network issues by continuously tracking syslog message data. Show application availability and performance, resource usage, the syslog entries related to the root cause of the problem, and other key metrics in real time. Visualize monitoring data in clear graphs and dashboards to identify problems more easily. Gain the overview you need to troubleshoot all kinds of issues with network performance.

    PRTG Screenshot device tree view

    Device tree view of the complete monitoring setup

    PRTG screenshot map entire it infrastructure

    Custom PRTG dashboard for keeping an eye on the entire IT infrastructure

    PRTG screenshot graph live data traffic

    Live traffic data graph in PRTG

    Start with free syslog server features as part of PRTG and see how it can make your network more reliable and your job easier.

    Free download
    PRODUCT OVERVIEW

    IT experts agree: Paessler PRTG is a great solution for IT infrastructure monitoring

    PCMag

    “All-around winning
     network monitor”

    IT Brief

    “The real beauty of PRTG is the endless possibilities it offers”

    ITPro

    “PRTG Network Monitor 
    is very hard to beat”

    Use cases: Does PRTG have the right syslog server features for you?

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    I don't need bells and whistles, I just need a free syslog server

    If you need a free, easy to set up solution for monitoring, storing, and analyzing syslog messages, then the freeware edition of PRTG is ideal. You'll even have sensors to spare and if your requirements change, you can quickly increase your capabilities at any time.

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    I need a professional network monitoring tool but I don't have the budget

    Many sysadmins would like to use a professional network monitoring tool but don't have the budget to do so. Getting management to free up the necessary funds can be time-consuming and stressful. Often it's a lot easier to use a free tool. PRTG makes this possible by including 100 free sensors that never expire.

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    I just want a syslog server for my home network

    Have you ever sat at home in front of your computer and wondered how to set up a syslog server for your home network? You're not alone. Many sysadmins also want reliable software for their homes. The syslog server features of PRTG can be useful for any network.

    More than a free syslog server: Network monitoring that's lightweight yet powerful

    icon ping

    Network availability

    With the Ping v2 sensor of PRTG, you can monitor the availability of all the hardware assets in your network. Servers, routers, switches, workstations…PRTG keeps an eye on everything. Find out more about uptime monitoring with PRTG.

    icon boost

    Network bandwidth

    How much traffic passes through your network? When and where do spikes in traffic occur? How does your traffic change over time? PRTG tells you all this and more. As a result, you can take all the necessary precautions to ensure that your network is running at optimal capacity. Find out more about bandwidth monitoring with PRTG.

    icon document

    Logs

    PRTG not only helps with syslog monitoring, but also provides comprehensive log monitoring and log management for various systems. This includes collecting and analyzing log messages from event logs, operating system logs, and log files across different platforms like macOs, Linux, or Windows. This capability ensures that network administrators have a complete view of their network infrastructure.

    Explore our preconfigured PRTG sensors for syslog server

    PRTG comes with more than 250 native sensor types for monitoring your entire on-premises, cloud, and hybrid cloud environment out of the box. Check out some examples below!

    Syslog Receiver

    The Syslog Receiver sensor receives and analyzes Syslog messages. It can show the following:

    • Number of dropped packets on the syslog port
    • Number of messages categorized as "error" and “warning”
    • Number of received Syslog messages
    Syslog Receiver
    Syslog Receiver

    SNMP Trap Receiver

    The SNMP Trap Receiver sensor receives and analyzes Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) traps. . It can show the following:

    • Number of dropped packets on the SNMP trap collector port
    • Number of messages categorized as "error" and “warning”
    • Overall number of received traps
    SNMP Trap Receiver
    SNMP Trap Receiver

    WMI Event Log

    The WMI Event Log sensor monitors a Windows log file. It can show the following:

    • Downtime
    • Number of new records
    WMI Event Log
    WMI Event Log

    See the PRTG Manual for a list of all available sensor types.

    Find the root cause of the problem with our PRTG syslog server solution

    Real-time notifications mean faster troubleshooting so that you can act before more serious issues occur.

    Free download
    PRODUCT OVERVIEW

    PRTG Is Compatible With All Major Vendors, Products, and Systems

    compatible with all major vendors, products, and systems

    Need a full network monitor? Run these reports to convince your CTO

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    Downtime report

    Is your network more up or down in the fight against downtime? This report is absolutely business critical, because whenever your network is down, productivity and sales decrease. Find out more about with uptime monitoring PRTG.

    icon lock

    Ports report

    PRTG monitors both open and closed ports. Port monitoring plays a vital role in ensuring that malware does not infiltrate your network. Without monitoring software, it’s next to impossible to keep an eye on all your open ports.

    icon answer

    Top 10 Talkers report

    What’s going on with the traffic in your network? To find out, simply generate the Top 10 Talkers report. PRTG provides real-time updates on what's up with your network – and notifies you immediately if there are sudden and drastic changes.

    PRTG makes syslog message monitoring as easy as it gets

    Custom alerts and data visualization let you quickly identify and prevent critical events in your network.

    Free download
    PRODUCT OVERVIEW

    “We strive to equip our systems with state-of-the-art technology to safeguard our educational practices for the future. Part of this includes ensuring that all our systems run smoothly at all times. On any given day, we rarely have time to keep an eye on all our systems. We therefore decided to monitor our school’s IT environment with a centralized network monitoring tool.”

    Stefan Roschewitz, IT administrator
    BBS Holzminden

    “We want to include the tool in our set of solutions in order to solve problems more proactively in our technology infrastructure. PRTG has exceeded all our expectations because it is a reliable, extremely easy-to-use solution. There is no doubt that it lives up to the renowned quality of German technology.”

    Esbin Saúl Lázaro García, IT Infrastructure and Security Engineer
    Hospital El Pilar

    “The reactivity, know-how, and technical solutions of Paessler are outstanding in every situation. For me, no monitoring tool compares to PRTG.”

    Andreas Reimann, Senior Networking Communication Architect
    Zurich Airport

    Your syslog server stats at a glance – even while on the go

    Set up PRTG in minutes and use it on almost any mobile device.

    device overview
    Gartner peer insights

    “Excellent tool for detailed monitoring. Alarms and notifications work greatly. Equipment addition is straight forward and server initial setup is very easy. ...feel safe to purchase it if you intend to monitor a large networking landscape.”

    Read the complete review at Gartner Peer Insights

    Create innovative solutions with Paessler’s IT partners

    Partnering with innovative IT vendors, Paessler unleashes synergies to create
    new and additional benefits for joined customers.

    IP Fabric

    IP Fabric

    Combining PRTG’s broad monitoring feature set with IP Fabric’s automated network assurance creates a new level of network visibility and reliability.

    Read more
    Rhebo

    Rhebo

    Rhebo and PRTG offer a comprehensive monitoring solution for IT and OT environments: from condition monitoring through to anomaly and threat detection.

    Read more
    UVnetworks

    UVnetworks

    UVexplorer integrates tightly with PRTG to bring fast and accurate network discovery, detailed device inventory, and automatic network mapping to the PRTG platform.

    Read more

    Find the root cause of the problem with our PRTG free syslog server

    Real-time notifications mean faster troubleshooting so that you can act before more serious issues occur.

    Free download
    PRODUCT OVERVIEW
    Paessler PRTG

    Paessler PRTG

    Network Monitoring Software – Version 26.1.116.1532 (February 9th, 2026)

    Hosting icon

    Hosting

    Download for Windows and cloud-based version PRTG Hosted Monitor available

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    Languages

    English, German, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Dutch, Russian, Japanese, and Simplified Chinese

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    Monitor everything

    Network devices, bandwidth, servers, applications, virtual environments, remote systems, IoT, and more

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    Pricing

    Choose the PRTG Network Monitor subscription that's best for you

    Discover more monitoring insights and stories

    Content illustration

    Powerful stories from the monitoring world

    • Video: PRTG Network Monitor – Smart Setup
    • Understanding MQTT architecture: a deep dive
    • Sending Notifications Via Microsoft Teams
    Support illustration

    Resources to master your monitoring challenges

    • PRTG Manual: Syslog Receiver Sensor - Paessler
    • Export Syslog
    • Is there a way to store sensor messages?
    Solution illustration

    Solutions for all your monitoring needs

    • Syslog Monitoring
    • Monitoring Technologies
    • Free VoIP Monitoring

    Free Syslog Server: FAQ

     

    What is syslog?

    Syslog stands for System Logging Protocol and is a standard protocol used to send system log or event messages to a specific server, called a syslog server.

    It is primarily used to collect various device logs from several different machines in a central location for monitoring and review.

    The protocol is enabled on most network equipment such as routers, switches, firewalls, and even some printers and scanners. In addition, syslog is available on Unix- and Linux-based systems and many web servers including Apache.

    What is a syslog server in the context of PRTG?

    Syslog servers are also known as syslog collectors or syslog receivers.

    Devices that are accordingly configured send syslog messages to the syslog receiver. For example, the IP address of the destination syslog server must be configured on the sending device. There is no mechanism within the syslog protocol that allows a server other than the one you configured to request syslog data.

    While most Unix implementations and network vendors like Cisco have their own barebones syslog collectors, there are several others available, too.

    Via the Syslog Receiver sensor, PRTG can be used as a basic syslog receiver that monitors, collects, and analyzes incoming syslog messages.

    How do I use the syslog receiver functionality of PRTG?

    PRTG offers a preconfigured Syslog Receiver sensor. You can add this sensor either to the probe device of your PRTG installation to collect all syslog messages sent from your entire system. Or you can add the sensor to a specific device in PRTG to collect only syslogs sent from this device.

    The sensor shows the following metrics:

    • The number of received syslog messages
    • The number of messages categorized as “warning”
    • The number of messages categorized as “error”
    • The number of dropped packets

    You can set specific filter rules to only collect and analyze syslog messages that are business critical for you. This way, you will only be notified about alerts that you really want to know about.

    What is a sensor in PRTG?

    In PRTG, “sensors” are the basic monitoring elements. One sensor usually monitors one measured value in your network, for example the traffic of a switch port, the CPU load of a server, or the free space on a disk drive. On average, you need about 5-10 sensors per device or one sensor per switch port.

    We asked: would you recommend PRTG? Over 95% of our customers say yes!

    Paessler conducted trials in over 600 IT departments worldwide to tune its network monitoring software closer to the needs of sysadmins. The result of the survey: over 95% of the participants would recommend PRTG – or already have.

    recommendation

    Still not convinced?

    Love

    More than 500,000 sysadmins love PRTG

    Paessler PRTG is used by companies of all sizes. Sysadmins love PRTG because it makes their job a whole lot easier.

    PRTG

    Monitor your entire IT infrastructure

    Bandwidth, servers, virtual environments, websites, VoIP services – PRTG keeps an eye on your entire network.

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    Try Paessler PRTG for free

    Everyone has different monitoring needs. That’s why we let you try PRTG for free.

    PRTG Logo

    Start with free syslog server features as part of PRTG and see how it can make your network more reliable and your job easier.

    Free download
    PRODUCT OVERVIEW

    Products

    • Paessler PRTG
      Paessler PRTGMonitor your whole IT infrastructure
      • PRTG Network Monitor
      • PRTG Enterprise Monitor
      • PRTG Hosted Monitor
      • PRTG UVexplorer
      • PRTG extensions
        Extensions for Paessler PRTGExtend your monitoring to a new level
    • Icon Features
      FeaturesExplore all monitoring features

    Monitoring with PRTG

    • Network monitoring
    • Bandwidth monitoring
    • SNMP monitoring
    • Network mapping
    • Wi-Fi monitoring
    • Server monitoring
    • Network traffic analyzer
    • NetFlow monitoring
    • Syslog server

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    Contact

    Paessler GmbH
    Thurn-und-Taxis-Str. 14, 
    90411 Nuremberg 
    Germany

    [email protected]

    +49 911 93775-0

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