All-in-One NetFlow Analyzer PRTG

NetFlow Analyzer PRTG lets you check and monitor your bandwidth and determine, for example, the amount of network traffic caused by IP addresses, protocols, or programs. In order to carry out such an analysis, you'll configure your routers such that flow packets are sent to a computer with a PRTG probe. NetFlow technology puts little strain on your CPU and is especially adapted for networks with heavy data traffic and bandwidth.

NetFlow protocol is mainly supported by Cisco routers and switches.

With the PRTG NetFlow Analyzer you can get a holistic view about your network, keep an eye on your network traffic and what your bandwidth is being used for.

“We can all work with greater peace of mind knowing that our systems are constantly being monitored.”

Markus Puke, Network Administrator at the Schüchtermann-Klinik.

Practical tip: “Hey Gerald, what would you tell administrators looking to use PRTG as a NetFlow Analyzer?”

“Cisco has continuously developed the NetFlow technology. Administrators must therefore find out beforehand which NetFlow version is supported by their routers and switches. With the right PRTG sensors, setting up NetFlow monitoring is quick and easy.”

Gerald Schoch works as a technical editor at PAESSLER AG.

Configure the router's NetFlow protocol so it sends NetFlow packets to the computer running the PRTG Network Monitor:

Alternative: If you do not require long-term traffic analyses for every single PC and would only like to monitor the network traffic occurring presently and recently on the basis of IP or protocol, then creating a NetFlow sensor and correspondingly analyzing the data traffic in the Toplists based on IP or protocol is sufficient. More information on setup: search answers to user questions in our Knowledge Base. In this article, you'll find additional tips on the configuration of Cisco routers.

VMware and NetFlow: VMware uses NetFlow technology in the "vSphere Distributed Switches (vDS)" product line. In principle, these virtual switches connect the virtual network cards of virtual machines (VMs) to the network by way of the physical network cards of hosts. VMware has incorporated NetFlow for these virtual switches. 

Monitoring with PRTG: Both monitoring and the NetFlow traffic analysis of physical (Cisco) devices are operational here. Set up NetFlow in the VMware vCenter and configure it such that these flows are sent to PRTG NetFlow Analyzer, where a corresponding flow sensor displays and monitors the data. As long as the correct NetFlow version is used, it will make no difference to PRTG where the flows come from.

Further Information:

All you need to know about VMware Monitoring with PRTG.

PRTG provides other Flow sensors which allow you to monitor your chat protocols, Citrix, FTP, Email, and other traffic.

sFlow: With an sFlow sensor, only every n^th packet will be passed on: this results in even less load on the system. Find our more about the PRTG sFlow sensor here.

jFlow: jFlow lets you monitor Juniper Networks hardware, among others. Here too you can configure devices especially for PRTG. It features a high degree of similarity to NetFlow5. Find out more about our jFlow sensor. 

SNMP: SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) is extremely popular and an easy way to read device data. It gives you an important first look, e.g. on bandwidth use, CPU, or the temperature of your hardware. More on SNMP monitoring with PRTG

Packet Sniffing: For more detailed information on your bandwidth usage, use Packet Sniffing or NetFlow. You will thus be able to take a closer look at the packets passing through individual routers or switches. More on Packet Sniffing with PRTG.

NetFlow Analysis: NetFlow is a protocol supported in particular by Cisco hardware. You therefore need a monitoring solution which is compatible with NetFlow. Such a solution (Packet Sniffing, e.g.) will enable you to analyze packets in detail. PRTG comes with a set of NetFlow sensors - at no extra charge.

Made in Germany: The PRTG Network Monitoring Tool is the fruit of a dedicated, international team. The company was founded by Dirk Paessler. PESSLER AG's headquarters are located in the city of Nuremberg, in the heart of Germany.

A quick overview: PRTG provides a quick overview, whether on your desktop or as an app on your smartphone. An individually configurable dashboard features every key stat in the form of an easy-to-understand graph, so you can always make sure your network is running smoothly.

Easy configuration: Our Smart Setup guarantees a quick and easy setup. During configuration, PRTG will ping your network and create appropriate sensors, saving you a great deal of time. Furthermore, switching from other software such as Nagios is relatively quick and easy.

Outstanding support: Our support team strives to resolve inquiries within 24 hours (on business days). Discover a wide selection of videos, webinars, and instructions in our knowledge base. Our manual is also an excellent resource.

Getting started is easy: The trial version is for free, allowing you to evaluate our monitoring tool with no strings attached. To upgrade, simply search for a suitable license. You can modify your license any time you like.