# Network Monitoring:  Favorite Software

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/network-monitoring-favorite-software/350072>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [March 27, 2006, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/network-monitoring-favorite-software/350072 "2006-03-27T13:59:14Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Bongmaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Bongmaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bongmaster)\
**Post date:** [March 27, 2006, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/network-monitoring-favorite-software/350072/1 "2006-03-27T13:59:14Z")

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I’m curious to hear what kind of network monitoring software is out there that I can use for free. Do you have a favoritve package that you really like? Let me know what’s popular and useful to you!

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**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\
**Post date:** [March 27, 2006, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/network-monitoring-favorite-software/350072/2 "2006-03-27T18:39:16Z")

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I like ethereal: [http://www.ethereal.com/](http://www.ethereal.com/)

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**Author:** ![butler1850](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@butler1850](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/butler1850)\
**Post date:** [March 27, 2006, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/network-monitoring-favorite-software/350072/3 "2006-03-27T21:31:40Z")

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What exactly are you looking to do? One package may solve your requirements, while others may not.

I personally was never able to find a single freeware package that filled all of my needs, but a programs called SolarWinds (which my company paid for) filled most of them. (the important ones).

Are you looking for reporting? Simple up/down ping responses? Detailed usage via SNMP?

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**Author:** ![Bongmaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Bongmaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bongmaster)\
**Post date:** [March 29, 2006, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/network-monitoring-favorite-software/350072/4 "2006-03-29T14:49:39Z")

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> [@butler1850](#):
>
> What exactly are you looking to do? One package may solve your requirements, while others may not.
> 
> I personally was never able to find a single freeware package that filled all of my needs, but a programs called SolarWinds (which my company paid for) filled most of them. (the important ones).
> 
> Are you looking for reporting? Simple up/down ping responses? Detailed usage via SNMP?

I’m basically looking for a performance monitor. I’d like to see, for instance, why the internet is slow on a particular day. I know its someone downloading or streaming movies/music I just can’t easily tell who and what it is. I’ll check out the tips above, thanks guys!