Real-time monitoring: Improve
your network performance
PRTG monitors all your network components in real time
Keep a constant eye on servers, VMs, hardware,
and Cloud services
PRTG displays monitoring data on an easy-to-read dashboard
PRTG real-time monitoring helps you improve the performance of your network
Unlimited version of PRTG for 30 days. After 30 days, PRTG reverts to a free version.
Or, you can upgrade to a paid license anytime.
Real-time monitoring with PRTG
Jump to the topic of your choice
- Why is real-time monitoring so important?
- How real-time monitoring with PRTG works
- Traffic monitoring: A comparison of WMI, SNMP, packet sniffing, and NetFlow
- Get a comprehensive look at your network – in real time
- Easy-to-read displays and user-defined maps
- Real-time notifications inform you of problems and errors as they happen
Why is real-time monitoring so important?
Optimize the performance and availability of your IT systems with real-time monitoring
Internet availability
Today, more than ever, companies rely on their Internet connection being always up and running. At the same time, they look to their network for functionality and performance. An ever increasing amount of goods and services are being purchased online. If one of your systems is down, it can not only impair business processes, but also affect sales. It is therefore vital that companies be informed immediately when malfunctions or performance snags arise.
Real-time monitoring with PRTG
By monitoring your network in real time, you’ll be sure to always know what is going on inside it. The PRTG Network Monitor captures all the traffic in your network, monitors the availability of servers, and measures key performance parameters such as bandwidth, CPU load, and the efficiency of virtual machines.
How real-time monitoring with PRTG works
The PRTG Real-Time Monitoring Tool uses all the best-known monitoring protocols to offer you data in real time. With PRTG, you can use SNMP, packet sniffing, and NetFlow to measure bandwidth consumption. SNMP is the most widely-used method, and provides an overview of all network traffic. You can also keep an eye on the data of individual ports. Another advantage: SNMP is extremely easy to configure. Learn more here.
Packet Sniffing is ideal for obtaining an in-depth analysis of your network traffic. It allows for traffic to be filtered by a variety of different values, such as IP addresses, protocols, or MAC addresses.
Flow-technologies such as NetFlow and IPFIX, jFlow and sFlow also offer extensive filtering possibilities – and compared to packet sniffing put less of a strain on your CPU. Which Flow protocol should you use? It all depends on the network device you want to monitor.
WMI is used for the real-time monitoring of Microsoft servers and workstations. With WMI, you get access to a variety of Windows-performance data, such as CPU load, memory capacity, and data traffic on the network interface card.
PRTG has a command of all these protocols, and arranges the data on easy-to-read dashboards.
Unlimited version of PRTG for 30 days. After 30 days, PRTG reverts to a free version.
Or, you can upgrade to a paid license anytime.
Traffic monitoring: A comparison of WMI, SNMP,
packet sniffing, and NetFlow
How would you like to implement your bandwidth monitoring? In addition to WMI, PRTG offers SNMP monitoring
and NetFlow-monitoring . Each of these options has its pros and cons. For a summary:
| WMI | SNMP | Packet Sniffer | xFlow (IPFIX, NetFlow, sFlow, jFlow) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Setup | Medium | Easy | Easy to complex (depending on filter rules used) | Can be complex (e.g., the switch must be configured) |
Traffic can be filtered | ![]() | | | |
Differentiate bandwidth usage by protocol or IPs | | | | |
PRTG can show Toplists (Top Talker, Top Connections, Top Protocols, custom) | | | | |
Filter bandwidth usage by IP | | | | |
Filter bandwidth usage by MAC address | | | | |
Filter bandwidth usage by physical network port | | | | |
Monitor network parameters other than bandwidth usage | | | | |
CPU load on the machine running PRTG | Medium | Low | Higher, depends on the amount of traffic | Higher, depends on the amount of traffic |
Excess bandwidth usage of monitoring | Small | Small | None (except when monitoring switch ports are used) | Depends on the traffic |
Get a comprehensive look at your network – in real time
PRTG not only monitors bandwidth and network performance in real time,
but also provides precious insight into data recorded across the entire network.
Servers
PRTG lets you keep a constant eye on the vital data of all your servers, including status, health, and performance. Whether a mail-server, web server, or file server with the comprehensive real-time monitoring of all the key parameters, you’ll immediately know if you’ve run into a glitch.
PRTG helps you to avoid expensive downtime and ensure your servers perform at their peak.
Virtualization
At many companies, virtualization is a crucial part of the IT infrastructure. Virtualization allows for a more efficient use of resources, reduced energy costs, and the flexible distribution of available capacities.
PRTG lets you keep track of host servers and virtual machines, as well as all the operating systems and applications that are running on your VMs. You’ll recognize potential performance problems immediately, and can quickly intervene before customers or co-workers notice something is wrong and call you to complain.
Hardware
For a network to run smoothly, its hardware must be flawless. Thanks to PRTG, you no longer have to constantly worry about the status of your hardware. Real-time monitoring runs in the background and promptly notifies you if a problem arises – often before the network goes down completely.
Cloud
More and more business processes are being stored in the Cloud. PRTG offers a quick overview of several different Cloud services. Easy-to-read dashboards provide all the required information in real time, whether you use Amazon AWS, Microsoft OneDrive, Google Drive, or another Cloud storage service. You can set custom threshold values right in the software. If these values are exceeded, PRTG will automatically send you a message.
Easy-to-read displays and user-defined maps
Secure an overview
It’s easy to get lost in all the various network data and measurements – but not with PRTG! PRTG arranges even large amounts of monitoring data on easy-to-read dashboards, which means you can determine at a quick glance if (and which) network elements require your attention.
Map Designer
PRTG offers a variety of standard views, and also lets you create custom ones. Take advantage of the Map Designer to design sleek charts for your monitoring data on the fly, or create your own libraries and have the information displayed the way you need it.
Unlimited version of PRTG for 30 days. After 30 days, PRTG reverts to a free version.
Or, you can upgrade to a paid license anytime.
Over 95% of our customers recommend PRTG
Paessler AG worldwide trialled PRTG in over 600 IT departments.
The aim was to tune the network monitoring software closer to the needs of the administrators.
The result of the survey: over 95% of the participants would recommend PRTG - or already had.
Real-time notifications inform you of problems
and errors as they happen
Network disruptions
If your website is down, your virtual machines are performing badly, or any other errors crop up in your network, you need to be told at once. PRTG’s customizable alarm system informs you promptly so you can quickly get to work on the problem. Choose to be notified by email, SMS, or push notification.
Alarm feature
Alarm thresholds can be set to any value whatsoever, which means that most of the time you can stamp out problems before things get serious. For example, you might receive a notification if your router returns an error message, even if the network has yet to experience a disruption. Thanks to PRTG, most errors can be fixed before your co-workers or customers get wind of them.
Trusted by 300,000 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.”
Unlimited version of PRTG for 30 days. After 30 days, PRTG reverts to a free version.
Or, you can upgrade to a paid license anytime.
Monitor your network in real time
– even while on the go
PRTG can be started within minutes and it's compatible with many mobile devices.
PRTG simplifies your day
Our monitoring software works for you and promptly notifies you of potential issues.
It frees you to concentrate on your day-to-day tasks with peace of mind.
PRTG saves time
With PRTG, you get one central monitoring tool for your servers and entire network. Enjoy a quick overview of your whole infrastructure via our dashboard and app.
PRTG saves worry
Customizing PRTG is a breeze. Getting started or switching from another network monitoring tool is easy thanks to the PRTG auto-discovery and pre-configured device templates.
PRTG saves money
80% of our customers report substantial or even exceptional cost savings in the area of network monitoring. The experience shows that the costs for licenses have paid for themselves within a matter of weeks.

You want to know more about other network-related monitoring topics?
Here you find everything about...
PRTG as network traffic analyzer
PAESSLER AG –
German quality
engineering
- Unlimited version of PRTG for 30 days
- After 30 days, PRTG reverts to a free version
- Or, you can upgrade to a paid license anytime
Made in Germany: The PRTG Network Monitoring Tool is the fruit of an engaged team. The company was founded by Dirk Paessler. The Paessler AG headquarters are located in the city of Nuremberg, in the heart of Germany. We combine typical German virtues such as high quality standards, industriousness, and commitment with international, cosmopolitan flair. Read more about our firm here. By the way: We are regularly looking for new recruits.
Case Studies: Airports, utility companies, banks, colleges, hospitals: PRTG is present in every industry. For each of our customers, business and organizational processes depend on the proper functioning of the network infrastructure. The PRTG customer satisfaction is close to 100%. Read in our case studies how our customers use PRTG.
Product tests: It goes without saying that we are convinced by the quality of PRTG. But what about the others? PRTG has always performed extremely well in tests. PRTG user “LanLine” sums it up best: “PRTG was already good several years ago, and has gotten better from version to version ever since.” Such has been our steadfast and sincere goal. Read more about monitoring software product tests and comparisons here.
Support: Our support team works hard every day to help customers solve their monitoring problems. Our goal is to resolve all inquiries within 24 hours (on business days). We've drafted a comprehensive manual and built up an extensive knowledge base featuring videos, webinars, and FAQs. All support, of course, is also included!
Getting started is easy: The trial version is free, which means you can try our monitoring tool risk-free. To switch to another version of PRTG, simply search for an appropriate license. You can upgrade any time you like.
PRTG |
Network Monitoring Software - Version 21.1.65.1767 (January 26th, 2021) |
Hosting |
Download for Windows and hosted version 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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