Free Network Sniffer:
PRTG lets you...
Monitor data packets
Filter by IP adress
Filter by protocol
Filter by data type
PRTG as a network sniffer
Jump to the topic of your choice
- What is a network sniffer?
- Free network sniffer: Use our Packet Sniffer Sensor for a quick overview of...
- 3 good reasons to choose the PRTG network monitor
- Convince your boss with the following PRTG fact sheet
- Inside PRTG: A sneak peek at the PRTG user interface
- The limits of PRTG as a sniffer tool
- Decision time: When the free version makes sense – and when the full version is better
- More than just a network sniffer for Windows: PRTG monitors your entire network
What is this tool?
A sniffer (also known as network analyzer or packet analyzer) is a software or hardware that can intercept and log traffic on a network. The tool captures each packet that flows across the infrastructure and analyzes its content.
What are the benefits of a network sniffer?
The packet capture done by a such a solution has several benefits, including:
- Identify and pinpoint unusual traffic in your network
- Collect data for security analysis
- Detect peaks and valleys in the bandwidth usage
- Analyze the performance of your network
3 good reasons to choose PRTG
Get to the root of the problem. Pronto.
Looking for a quick overview of your network traffic? Or maybe you’d like to solve a specific problem relating to data packets, IP addresses, or protocols? Download the free version of PRTG today and enjoy all the software’s features for 30 days for free.
Get a handle on your network. Once and for all.
Is your IT infrastructure becoming more and more complex? Are you struggling with network problems? If so, then you’re in the same boat as many other IT managers. Increased complexity creates more work and stress. With PRTG, you’ll finally take control of your network. If something goes awry, you’ll be notified at once.
Try PRTG for free. Decide later.
You're the expert...but not the only one involved in the decision-making process. We therefore let you try PRTG for 30 days for free. You get access to all the software’s features, including the alarm, reports, and full range of sensors. After the trial, you – and your higher-ups – will know if PRTG is the right tool for your company.
The limits of PRTG as a sniffer tool
What can PRTG do for you?
PRTG displays the data traffic in your network. You'll see the amount and source of all the traffic that flows through your network. Such sources can include applications, mail traffic, or web traffic. PRTG offers continuous monitoring and targeted troubleshooting.
PRTG as a basis for analyses
Looking to capture and record detailed information on the content of individual data packets for analysis purposes? If so, you might want to consider using another network sniffer tool such as Wireshark in addition to PRTG.
Tools that work well together
We’ve found that sysadmins often use PRTG in conjunction with other tools. PRTG lets you quickly isolate network problems. With a quick glance at your data traffic, you’ll be able to immediately exclude certain causes. You can then use another tool to perform a more detailed analysis.
Practical tip: “Hey Stephan, do you have any tips for VoIP monitoring?”
“To simulate a telephone that uses the same network as your real IP telephone, simply set up our QoS Reflector Script on a Raspberry Pi and connect the latter to the desired point on the network. By doing so, you can guarantee that you are measuring the right network path with our QoS Round Trip Sensor. This is important because VoIP traffic is usually treated with priority.”
Stephan Linke, technical support at Paessler AG
Trusted by 500,000 users and recognized
by industry analysts as a leader
“Fantastic network and infrastructure monitoring solution that is easy to deploy and easier still to use. Simply the best available.”
“Software is absolutely perfect, Support is superior. Meets all needs and requirements, this is a must have solution if you are needing any form of monitoring.”
“The tool excels at its primary focus of being a unified infrastructure management and network monitoring service.”
Decision time: When the free version makes sense – and when the full version is a better permanent solution
Free sniffer tool
Looking for a quick and easy way to solve a specific network problem? If so, then PRTG may be the tool for you. With our Packet Sniffer Sensor, you get a preconfigured sensor that sniffs data packets. What’s more, you’ll enjoy free access to all PRTG features for 30 full days. After the trial, the free version may be your best bet if you’re in charge of a small network. In the free version, you'll simply choose the sensors you need the most, such as the Ping Sensor to check network availability and the SNMP Sensor to keep a constant eye on total network traffic.
Network monitoring tool
If you’re the manager of a larger network and in search of a permanent monitoring solution, then PRTG can help. PRTG comes with 250+ preconfigured sensors, as well as a fully customizable notification system. PRTG dashboards provide for a constant overview, while reports allow you to show your higher-ups the areas of the network that need improvement and where you ought to invest. Licenses are determined by the number of sensors you require for your network. They’re easy to upgrade in the event that your needs or infrastructure evolve.
Your wireless network at a glance – even on the go
PRTG is set up in a matter of minutes and can be used on a wide variety of mobile devices.
More than just a network sniffer for Windows: PRTG monitors your entire network
Keep databases up and running
PRTG comes with preconfigured sensors for all the largest database systems, including MySQL, Microsoft SQL, Oracle SQL, and PostgreSQL, to name a few. With database monitoring, you’ll prevent downtime and improve performance.
Ensure hardware doesn’t crash
Servers, routers, switches: A network contains countless different devices, and an error or malfunction can occur anywhere. Without a monitoring tool, you can spend hours or even days searching for a failed switch. PRTG doesn’t wait until the system crashes – it immediately notifies you in the event of a disruption and shows you where the problem lies.
Keep cloud applications stable
If cloud applications run properly, they can save your company money. But when they go down, they can be the source of a great deal of frustration. PRTG lets you set up cloud monitoring, whether you use VMware, Amazon CloudWatch, or any other cloud application. Here too, its numerous preconfigured sensors are extremely handy.
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.
ScriptRunner
With ScriptRunner, Paessler integrates a powerful event automation platform into PRTG Network Monitor.
UVexplorer integrates tightly with PRTG to bring fast and accurate network discovery, detailed device inventory, and automatic network mapping to the PRTG platform.
UVnetworks
We asked: would you recommend PRTG?
Over 95% of our customers say yes!
Paessler AG 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.
Still not convinced?
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.
Still not convinced?
Monitor your entire IT infrastructure
Bandwidth, servers, virtual environments, websites, VoIP services – PRTG keeps an eye on your entire network.
Try Paessler PRTG for free
Everyone has different monitoring needs. That’s why we let you try PRTG for free. Start now with your trial.
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PRTG |
Network Monitoring Software - Version 23.1.82.2175 (March 1st, 2023) |
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Hosting |
Download for Windows and cloud-based version PRTG Hosted Monitor available |
Languages |
English, German, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Dutch, Russian, Japanese, and Simplified Chinese |
Pricing |
Up to 100 sensors for free (Price List) |
Unified Monitoring |
Network devices, bandwidth, servers, applications, virtual environments, remote systems, IoT, and more |
Supported Vendors & Applications |
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