Free network mapping
software PRTG

PRTG connects 'Monitoring' with 'Mapping': That's the difference between PRTG and other tools
 

Network scanner and network mapping tools

Pure network scanners detect the network with all its components and deliver results in the form of a list. This information can then be used for creating network charts and maps using network mapping software.

But this requires a significant amount of time-consuming, manual work. Furthermore, only static maps can be created this way which themselves have no other utility except the pure network overview. Network topology mappers can display a live diagram of your physical network elements.

Create individual maps in PRTG.

Network monitoring software like PRTG

PRTG and other network monitoring tools with the mapping option, as opposed to pure network mapping solutions, or the combination of network scanners and mapping tools, deliver information on the availability and condition of detected components. Additionally, on network traffic and network performance beyond simply 'discovering and mapping the network topology'. Many of these solutions promise further assistance by 'Auto-Mapping': via network discovery, identified network devices such as switches, routers, firewalls, as well as servers or applications, are displayed in automatically-generated network maps.

However, the outcome of such auto-maps is often unsatisfactory. Many devices and even more connections are displayed one-dimensionally on over-sized maps. This might be acceptable as a 'one-off' inventory, but such cards are cluttered and unhelpful in daily use for troubleshooting and network planning.

Network mapping tools

In addition to the combination of scanners and mapping tools, there also exists complete network mapping solutions. These scan the network and integrate the identified devices directly in network diagrams and maps - so called 'auto-mapping' generating the network maps automatically.

Integrated network mapping solutions are clearly superior to the combination of network scanners and mapping tool when it comes to usability, but the automatically generated maps often not fall-short in terms of legibility: the overwhelming number of network devices and connections confuse the clarity of the results instead of producing a clear overview.

Here, a manual touch up is required - if the solution allows for this action. A further disadvantage is the limitation to scanning and mapping which does not deliver data concerning the actual condition of devices.

The Sunburst View in PRTG

In addition to clear and easily creatable maps, PRTG provides a surplus against the suite of pure network scanning and mapping tools: PRTG maps show not only devices and connections, but also deliver information on their status.

Adding a building plan as wallpaper shows each device's location.

Simultaneously, the PRTG Sunburst-View provides the entire network status at a glance.

PRTG – More than just a mapping tool

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

With PRTG, Paessler AG offers a powerful, affordable, and easy-to-use unified monitoring tool. Over 500,000 administrators worldwide use our software, whether it be to monitor their server performance, LAN, virtual environments, or even the accessibility of their websites. PRTG is a network analysis solution and performance monitoring tool for Windows.

PRTG supports all important protocols like SNMP, NetFlow, WMI, or Packet Sniffing.