How to install
a PRTG remote probe
in 4 steps

 
 

What is a PRTG remote probe?

Remote probes allow you to monitor different sub-networks that are separated from your PRTG on premises core server by a firewall and to keep an eye on remote locations. You can install one or more remote probes.

Remote probes are useful if you want to distribute monitoring load by taking it from the system running the PRTG core server and putting it on one or more remote probe machines.

 

 

1. Prepare the PRTG core server

 

Step 1: Probe Connection settings

  • From the main menu in the PRTG web interface, select Setup | System Administration | Core & Probes to access the probe’s settings and go to the Probe Connection Settings.

 

Step 2: Probe Connection IPs

  • By default, a core server accepts connections from the Local Probe only (IP address 127.0.0.1). This setting is the most secure setting, but it does not allow any remote probe to connect to your PRTG core server
  • To accept remote probes, choose All IPs available on this computer: Any IP on your core server system will accept incoming probe connections

 

All IPs available on this computer

Step 3: Allow IPs

  • In the Allow IPs field, you can enter the IP address of the computer you want to install a remote probe on
  • Enter the word any to set the PRTG core server to accept remote probes connecting from any IP address
  • Note: If you use any, make sure you write the word in lowercase only! Any other variations will not be valid!
  • Changing other settings is not required.

Step 4: Save settings

  • When you are done, click Save to save your settings. 

Step 5: PRTG Restart

  • PRTG now needs to restart the core server to apply your changes. After clicking the Save button, a dialog box appears that asks you to confirm the required core server restart.
  • Click OK to trigger the restart and follow the instructions on the screen.
 

2. Download the Remote Probe Installer
from the PRTG Web Interface

 

Log in PRTG web interface

  • On the computer on which you want to install a remote probe, log in to the PRTG web interface.

Add remote probe

  • From the main menu bar, select Setup | Downloads and Tools | Remote Probe Installer.
  • Click Add Remote Probe to start the installation assistant.

Prepare and download

  • In the appearing dialog window, click Prepare and Download to start the download
  • Save the setup program to your local disk
 

Add Remote Probe

Prepare and download

 

3. Install the remote probe

 

1. Setup program

  • Execute the setup program that you have just downloaded

2. Confirm account

  • Confirm the Windows User Account Control dialog with Yes to allow the installation. The usual software installation wizard will guide you through the installation process

3. Start process

  • Click Install to start the installation process of your remote probe

  • Please wait until the installation is completed. The remote probe will automatically connect to your PRTG core server

  • If the remote probe successfully connects to your PRTG core server, you can complete the setup of your new remote probe

4. Finalize installation

  • Click Continue to finish the remote probe installation
  • Finally, click Finish to exit the installation wizard
  • The remote probe is now installed on your computer as a Windows service
 
Install Remote Probe

Install Remote Probe

Connecting to server

Connecting to server

Succesful installation

Succesful installation

 

4. Approve the new probe and start monitoring

 

Installation done

In the installation assistant, click Installation Done

Installation done
 

Auto-discovery

Now you can go back to the device tree and acknowledge the new probe. Find the approval button under the node of the new remote probe

Click Approve and auto-discover new probe to include your new remote probe device and network in your device tree and to start the PRTG auto-discovery. It helps you discover devices and automatically creates suitable sensors

Optionally, you can also choose to only approve your remote probe without starting an auto-discovery by clicking Approve new probe. The probe now appears as a new object in your device tree

 

Device tree

Once approved, PRTG automatically creates a set of sensors for the probe to ensure you can detect bottlenecks on the probe system immediately. We recommend that you keep these sensors

You can now create groups, devices, and sensors for monitoring via the new probe