All-In-One Bandwidth Monitoring: PRTG Network Monitor
- Save time:
PRTG lets you keep an eye on bandwidth and data traffic
- Save worry:
PRTG is quick to create alerts - before problems arise
- Save money:
PRTG significantly increases the reliability of your network
Markus Puke, Network Administrator at the Schüchtermann-Klinik.
PRTG SIMPLIFIES YOUR DAY!
Let PRTG test and measure your network bandwidth around the clock
so you can concentrate on day-to-day tasks with total peace of mind.
- PRTG SAVES TIME
With PRTG, you get one central monitoring tool for measuring bandwidth and testing your network. You’ll enjoy a quick overview of your entire infrastructure via our dashboard and app.
- PRTG SAVES WORRY
Installing PRTG is quick and easy. Getting started or switching from another network and bandwidth monitoring tool is straightforward thanks to more than 200 pre-configured sensors.
- PRTG SAVES MONEY
PRTG is worth it. 79% of our customers report substantial savings in the area of network management. And license costs pay for themselves in an average of only 3 ? months.
Measuring bandwidth: 3 situations where PRTG comes in handy
Slow applications
Your co-workers complain that the programs used internally are too slow? Your customers are unhappy because your website constantly seems bogged down? Then the problem probably lies with your bandwidth.
Malfunctions when backing up
No IT can do without backups. In general, backups or database synchronizations require a great deal of bandwidth. Without the proper amount of bandwidth, your network can be brought to its knees.
Problems with large file transfers
Practically every company sends large files. These files consume a correspondingly high amount of bandwidth. But bottlenecks lurking in every network slow down transfers.
This is what bandwidth monitoring looks like in PRTG
Test bandwidth: use PRTG to test with success!
You’d like to know if your ISP actually provides the bandwidth they’ve promised? Then just like many administrators, you probably perform frequent SLA checks. But how do you test bandwidth? Two challenges arise:
Challenge 1: In order to test the maximum throughput of your bandwidth, you must use your line to maximum capacity. This means there will be no more resources for other data during the test. In other words, you'll paralyze your network.
Challenge 2:For a 100% measurement, you’ll essentially need two computers which are directly located on the ends of the line whose bandwidth you would like to test. Otherwise you will also simultaneously test all network devices found on the “test track.”
For these reasons, you cannot measure the bandwidth directly over the course of the entire test, but must test the speed of the line by generating short load peaks, e.g. by downloading a small file (a few kB) every few minutes and measuring the time it takes for the download.
The solution:This is how to test your bandwidth with PRTG:
1.Create three HTTP Advanced sensors, which access several files of circa 500 kB from a variety of "fast servers" (e.g. your ISP's static websites).
2.Let the sensors run for a few hours with a 5-minute interval. The sensors have a channel which specify the bandwidths achieved during the file download in Kbps.
3.If, for example, you have a data line with a specified bandwidth of 4 Mbps, the test of a 500 kB file should last 1,000 ms (1 second): 4 Megabits per second = .5 MB per second = 500 kB per second.
If your line is used by others during the test, you will see jitter (unwanted fluctuations) on the curve, for your test did not always run with the full amount of available bandwidth. If there was no other traffic on the line, your curve should closely resemble a straight line. Bandwidth checks with PRTG will allow you to monitor your network and potential bottlenecks.
Practical tip: “Hey Mathias, what would you tell administrators who wish to monitor their bandwidth?”
“Instead of trying to measure bandwidth by way of an extra, simulated load, you should have a look around for actions which do that anyway – and then monitor them. For example, when you perform backups, you often put great strain on the bandwidth and can thus easily recognize shortages or bottlenecks.”Mathias Hengl, PRTG Developer at PAESSLER AG
Bandwidth monitor What makes PRTG better than the rest?
Quick troubleshooting
Looking for the causes of slow applications or other problems without a monitoring tool is long and costly. PRTG provides a comprehensive network bandwidth monitor. You get around 20 sensors just for the monitoring of your bandwidth, and these sensors can be created automatically.
Identify shortages
PRTG lets you keep an eye on your bandwidth over a longer period of time, and recognize the times when utilization has spiked. This allows you to proactively plan for more bandwidth at certain times - such as when your website is in high demand, when users tend to draw heavily upon applications, or when an update is about to take place.
Promptly diagnose capacity
Your bandwidth is slowly reaching its limit? With PRTG, you'll know immediately when maximum capacity has been reached. This lets you plan for new resources in a timely manner.
Reduce costs
By discovering and removing bandwidth hogs, you'll increase the efficiency of your network. You'll also benefit from lasting savings. Most of the time, these measures alone quickly compensate for the costs of PRTG.
Increase morale
With PRTG as your bandwidth tester, you'll provide a stable bandwidth, boost the reliability of your network, and simply enjoy greater control of your IT infrastructure. As a consequence, you'll play a major role both in the improved performance of co-workers and in soaring customer satisfaction.
Bandwidth monitoring for professionals and consumers alike
Private users: Many private users are interested in determining the amount of bandwidth they have at their disposal. Or more precisely: if the bandwidth guaranteed by their internet service provider is indeed the amount that is available. In this context, many consumers investigate speed tests, DSL bandwidth, or whether their cell phones or tablets are able to access the respective bandwidth.
- In addition to PRTG, which of course can help in this area, you may opt for a simple cable speed test which can be found online on a variety of different sites. Start using our bandwidth manager for your network.
- Professional settings: In professional settings (businesses or large organizations), reduced bandwidth has significantly graver consequences. Disruptions lead to idleness on the part of employees and customers and a corresponding loss of sales. Administrators must promptly expose and eliminate bandwidth hogs.
- In this instance, our PRTG bandwidth monitoring tool will help you to monitor bandwidth, detect and measure heavy bandwidth burdens, quickly recognize potential disruptions - and get down to the root of the problem.