Traffic accounting and control. Local network traffic monitoring
Traffic accounting programs monitor connections across all interfaces. They count the amount of data received and sent.
Some of them allow you to limit the speed of each individual connection.
Thus, you can distribute Internet traffic depending on the priority of the task.
Another useful feature of such utilities is the ability to maintain statistics.
Advice!
Such software is necessary for corporate structures in which every financial aspect is important. Using a traffic monitor also benefits home networks.
Among all such programs, there are five most common, functional and convenient.
NetWorx
A free traffic accounting program that combines a simple interface and good functionality.
The program's capabilities allow you to monitor multiple connections, which is very useful for monitoring traffic on corporate networks.
Detailed connection monitoring allows you to identify and defeat unauthorized access attempts.
A flexible notification system will allow you not to miss an important event, be it connection problems, suspicious actions or a decrease in connection speed.
The collected data is not only displayed graphically in the program window, but is also saved in a special statistics file.
The statistical data is subsequently easily exported to a spreadsheet, HTML or MS Word document.
Advantages:
Monitoring multiple connections;
Flexible notification system;
Maintaining detailed statistics;
Free distribution model.
Flaws:
True, in this mode you can only observe the dynamics, you will not be able to influence them.
Advantages:
Free distribution;
Possibility of remote monitoring;
Good for home use.
Flaws:
Significant consumption of RAM resources;
Mandatory presence of the .NET Framework (conditional disadvantage).
Internet Count
The program is designed to account for the cost of an Internet connection. Accounting is possible both for time-based pricing and for tariff plans with traffic limits.
The program's universal capabilities allow you to calculate the cost of an Internet connection for users in any region.
All collected data is stored in detailed statistics by day and month.
The collected data can be exported to various document formats for subsequent detailed analysis.
Advantages:
Free distribution;
Possibility of cost accounting regardless of region;
Detailed statistics.
Flaws:
Only cost accounting is carried out;
Only Beta version is available.
TMeter
An excellent tool for traffic accounting. The utility collects maximum information on data exchange processes.
TMeter provides traffic counting as well as the ability to manage multiple connections.
Statistics are collected on a variety of parameters, displayed in accordance with the current state of affairs and saved in graphical and text forms.
The program's powerful functionality allows you to manage connections using its own authentication system, based on IP addresses or other parameters.
Data flow controls allow you to limit the connection speed for each user individually.
Advantages:
Huge tools for managing corporate networks;
NAT mechanism, which provides local network users with Internet access via a single IP;
Built-in authentication service;
Flexible filter system.
Flaws:
Windows-oriented; work in other operating systems is impossible;
Not suitable for home use;
The difficult-to-learn interface is not suitable for ordinary users;
The free version has a limit on the filters used (up to 3).
TrafficMonitor
A universal tool that allows you to track the volume of traffic both during a personal connection and in corporate networks.
The work requires the .NET Framework 2.0 working environment, the OSD window and the floating window displaying traffic dynamics allow you to always have access to the necessary information.
Advantages:
Convenient interface with quick access elements;
More than 125 parameter counters;
Maintaining a detailed event log.
Flaws:
Single conflicts with proxy servers;
Incorrect operation with Dialup connections.
Traffic tracking programs are very useful for a wide audience.
Both ordinary personal connection users and system administrators of complex commercial networks will benefit from them.
Moreover, among the many available utilities you can find universal ones.
Internet speed and Internet traffic accounting program
A free utility for those involved in system administration or home network monitoring.
This article will look at software solutions that will help you control your traffic. Thanks to them, you can see a summary of the Internet connection consumption of a particular process and limit its priority. It is not necessary to view recorded reports on a PC with special software installed in its OS - this can be done remotely. It won’t be a problem to find out the cost of consumed resources and much more.
Software from SoftPerfect Research that allows you to control consumed traffic. The program provides additional settings that make it possible to see information about megabytes consumed for a specific day or week, peak and off-peak hours. It is possible to see indicators of incoming and outgoing speed, received and sent data.
The tool will be especially useful in cases where metered 3G or LTE is used, and, accordingly, restrictions are required. If you have more than one account, statistics about each individual user will be displayed.
DU Meter
An application for tracking the consumption of resources from the World Wide Web. In the work area you will see both incoming and outgoing signals. By connecting to the dumeter.net service account offered by the developer, you will be able to collect statistics on the use of information flow from the Internet from all PCs. Flexible settings will help you filter the stream and send reports to your email.
The parameters allow you to specify restrictions when using a connection to the World Wide Web. In addition, you can specify the cost of the service package provided by your provider. There is a user manual in which you will find instructions for working with the existing functionality of the program.
Network Traffic Monitor
A utility that displays network usage reports with a simple set of tools without the need for prior installation. The main window displays statistics and a summary of the connection that has Internet access. The application can block the stream and limit it, allowing the user to specify their own values. In the settings you can reset the recorded history. It is possible to record existing statistics in a log file. An arsenal of necessary functionality will help you record download and upload speeds.
TrafficMonitor
The application is an excellent solution for countering information flow from the network. There are many indicators that show the amount of data consumed, output, speed, maximum and average values. Software settings allow you to determine the cost of currently used volumes of information.
The generated reports will contain a list of actions related to the connection. The graph is displayed in a separate window, and the scale is displayed in real time; you will see it on top of all the programs in which you work. The solution is free and has a Russian-language interface.
NetLimiter
The program has a modern design and powerful functionality. What makes it special is that it provides reports that provide a summary of the traffic consumption of each process running on the PC. The statistics are perfectly sorted by different periods, and therefore it will be very easy to find the desired period of time.
If NetLimiter is installed on another computer, you can connect to it and control its firewall and other functions. To automate processes within the application, rules created by the user are used. In the scheduler, you can create your own limits when using the services of a provider, as well as block access to the global and local networks.
DUTraffic
The special feature of this software is that it displays advanced statistics. There is information about the connection from which the user entered the global space, sessions and their duration, as well as duration of use and much more. All reports are accompanied by information in the form of a diagram highlighting the duration of traffic consumption over time. In the parameters you can customize almost any design element.
The graph that is displayed in a specific area is updated in a second-by-second mode. Unfortunately, the utility is not supported by the developer, but has a Russian interface language and is distributed free of charge.
BWMeter
The program monitors download/upload and speed of the existing connection. Using filters displays an alert if processes in the OS are consuming network resources. Various filters are used to solve many different problems. The user will be able to fully customize the displayed graphs at their discretion.
Among other things, the interface shows the duration of traffic consumption, the reception and upload speed, as well as the minimum and maximum values. The utility can be configured to display alerts when events such as the number of megabytes downloaded and connection time occur. By entering the site address in the appropriate line, you can check its ping, and the result is written to a log file.
BitMeter II
A solution for providing a summary of the use of provider services. The data is available in both tabular and graphical formats. The parameters configure alerts for events related to connection speed and consumed stream. For ease of use, BitMeter II allows you to calculate how much time it will take to download the amount of data you enter in megabytes.
The functionality allows you to determine how much available volume is left provided by the provider, and when the limit is reached, a message about this is displayed in the taskbar. Moreover, downloads can be limited in the settings tab, and you can also monitor statistics remotely in browser mode.
The presented software products will be indispensable for monitoring the consumption of Internet resources. The functionality of the applications will help you create detailed reports, and the reports sent by e-mail are available for viewing at any convenient time.
05.23.16 45.3KMany network administrators often encounter problems that can be resolved by analyzing network traffic. And here we come across such a concept as a traffic analyzer. So what is it?
NetFlow analyzers and collectors are tools that help you monitor and analyze network traffic data. Network process analyzers allow you to accurately identify devices that are reducing channel throughput. They know how to find problem areas in your system and improve the overall efficiency of the network.
The term " NetFlow" refers to a Cisco protocol designed to collect IP traffic information and monitor network traffic. NetFlow has been adopted as the standard protocol for streaming technologies.
NetFlow software collects and analyzes flow data generated by routers and presents it in a user-friendly format.
Several other network equipment vendors have their own protocols for monitoring and data collection. For example, Juniper, another highly respected network device vendor, calls its protocol " J-Flow". HP and Fortinet use the term " s-Flow". Although the protocols are called differently, they all work in a similar way. In this article, we'll look at 10 free network traffic analyzers and NetFlow collectors for Windows.
SolarWinds Real-Time NetFlow Traffic Analyzer
Free NetFlow Traffic Analyzer is one of the most popular tools available for free download. It gives you the ability to sort, tag, and display data in a variety of ways. This allows you to conveniently visualize and analyze network traffic. The tool is great for monitoring network traffic by type and time period. As well as running tests to determine how much traffic various applications consume.
This free tool is limited to one NetFlow monitoring interface and only stores 60 minutes of data. This Netflow analyzer is a powerful tool that is worth using.
Colasoft Capsa Free
This free LAN traffic analyzer identifies and monitors over 300 network protocols and allows you to create custom reports. It includes email monitoring and sequence charts TCP synchronization, all of this is collected in one customizable panel.
Other features include network security analysis. For example, tracking DoS/DDoS attacks, worm activity and ARP attack detection. As well as packet decoding and information display, statistical data about each host on the network, packet exchange control and flow reconstruction. Capsa Free supports all 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows XP.
Minimum system requirements for installation: 2 GB of RAM and a 2.8 GHz processor. You must also have an Ethernet connection to the Internet ( NDIS 3 compliant or higher), Fast Ethernet or Gigabit with mixed mode driver. It allows you to passively capture all packets transmitted over an Ethernet cable.
Angry IP Scanner
It is an open source Windows traffic analyzer that is fast and easy to use. It does not require installation and can be used on Linux, Windows and Mac OSX. This tool works by simply pinging each IP address and can determine MAC addresses, scan ports, provide NetBIOS information, determine the authorized user on Windows systems, discover web servers, and much more. Its capabilities are expanded using Java plugins. Scan data can be saved to CSV, TXT, XML files.
ManageEngine NetFlow Analyzer Professional
A fully featured version of ManageEngines' NetFlow software. This is a powerful software with a full set of functions for analysis and data collection: monitoring of channel throughput in real time and alerts when threshold values are reached, which allows you to quickly administer processes. In addition, it provides summary data on resource usage, monitoring of applications and protocols, and much more.
The free version of the Linux traffic analyzer allows unlimited use of the product for 30 days, after which you can monitor only two interfaces. System requirements for NetFlow Analyzer ManageEngine depend on the flow rate. Recommended requirements for a minimum flow rate of 0 to 3000 threads per second are a 2.4 GHz dual-core processor, 2 GB of RAM, and 250 GB of available hard drive space. As the speed of the flow to be monitored increases, the requirements also increase.
The Dude
This application is a popular network monitor developed by MikroTik. It automatically scans all devices and recreates a network map. The Dude monitors servers running on various devices and alerts you if problems arise. Other features include automatic discovery and display of new devices, the ability to create custom maps, access to tools for remote device management, and more. It runs on Windows, Linux Wine and MacOS Darwine.
JDSU Network Analyzer Fast Ethernet
This traffic analyzer program allows you to quickly collect and view network data. The tool provides the ability to view registered users, determine the level of network bandwidth usage by individual devices, and quickly find and fix errors. And also capture data in real time and analyze it.
The application supports the creation of highly detailed graphs and tables that allow administrators to monitor traffic anomalies, filter data to sift through large volumes of data, and much more. This tool for entry-level professionals, as well as experienced administrators, allows you to take complete control of your network.
Plixer Scrutinizer
This network traffic analyzer allows you to collect and comprehensively analyze network traffic, and quickly find and fix errors. With Scrutinizer, you can sort your data in a variety of ways, including by time interval, host, application, protocol, and more. The free version allows you to control an unlimited number of interfaces and store data for 24 hours of activity.
Wireshark
Wireshark is a powerful network analyzer that can run on Linux, Windows, MacOS X, Solaris and other platforms. Wireshark allows you to view captured data using a GUI, or use the TTY-mode TShark utilities. Its features include VoIP traffic collection and analysis, real-time display of Ethernet, IEEE 802.11, Bluetooth, USB, Frame Relay data, XML, PostScript, CSV data output, decryption support, and more.
System requirements: Windows XP and higher, any modern 64/32-bit processor, 400 Mb of RAM and 300 Mb of free disk space. Wireshark NetFlow Analyzer is a powerful tool that can greatly simplify the work of any network administrator.
Paessler PRTG
This traffic analyzer provides users with many useful features: support for monitoring LAN, WAN, VPN, applications, virtual server, QoS and environment. Multi-site monitoring is also supported. PRTG uses SNMP, WMI, NetFlow, SFlow, JFlow and packet analysis, as well as uptime/downtime monitoring and IPv6 support.
The free version allows you to use an unlimited number of sensors for 30 days, after which you can only use up to 100 for free.
nProbe
It is a full-featured open source NetFlow tracking and analysis application.
nProbe supports IPv4 and IPv6, Cisco NetFlow v9 / IPFIX, NetFlow-Lite, contains functions for VoIP traffic analysis, flow and packet sampling, log generation, MySQL/Oracle and DNS activity, and much more. The application is free if you download and compile the traffic analyzer on Linux or Windows. The installation executable limits the capture size to 2000 packets. nProbe is completely free for educational institutions, as well as non-profit and scientific organizations. This tool will work on 64-bit versions of Linux and Windows operating systems.
This list of 10 free NetFlow traffic analyzers and collectors will help you get started monitoring and troubleshooting a small office network or a large, multi-site corporate WAN.
Each application presented in this article makes it possible to monitor and analyze network traffic, detect minor failures, and identify bandwidth anomalies that may indicate security threats. And also visualize information about the network, traffic and much more. Network administrators must have such tools in their arsenal.
This publication is a translation of the article “ Top 10 Best Free Netflow Analyzers and Collectors for Windows", prepared by the friendly project team
Good Bad
Hello, blog site readers! Many users are thinking about having their own Internet traffic counter on their computer, or otherwise called Internet traffic monitoring, which could show how much traffic you spend. The Internet has long been available in all parts of the planet, but not everyone has unlimited access yet.
Users who are content with the Internet with limited traffic are always surprised at how quickly the existing limit goes away. In principle, nothing surprising: Many users have a large number of programs installed on their computers that are updated in.
Users don’t even notice how they are watching the next video on youtube.com and exchanging files with their colleagues or friends.
Don't be afraid: this problem can be easily solved. There is a specialized program for traffic accounting and control - Networx. It is she who will “tell” you that it’s enough to surf the Internet and it’s time to remember your limit, which is not infinite.
On the website you can download the program installation file and the Portable version. In this article we will analyze the installation version of the program.
To download the program, go to the bottom of the page and click on the “Download NetWorx installer” button. We are waiting for the program to download.
Installation Networx
Let's run the file we just downloaded. Click “Next”.
We agree to the program license, check the “I accept the agreement” box and click “Next”.
In the next window, leave the default installation path. Click “Next”.
Click “Next” again.
In the next window, you can leave or remove “Desk Band” - an addition that clearly shows traffic in real time. For those who are bothered by unnecessary icons on the control panel, it is better to disable it.
In my case, I uncheck the “Install an optional NetWorx Desk Band extensional (as show below)” checkbox. Click “Next”.
Click “Install”.
The installation of the program is complete. Click “Finish”.
Immediately after installing the program, a settings window will open. Select the Russian language (Russian) and click “Next”.
Selecting an Internet connection: you need to select through which network adapter you connect to the Internet. Click "Forward".
Click “Finish”.
Now you will see a program icon in your tray that looks like a diagram.
Double-click the left mouse button on the diagram. After this, the main window will open.
As we can see, the program has a nice and intuitive Russian interface. And, importantly, the program counts traffic quite accurately. Using it, you can receive Internet traffic reports: daily, weekly, as well as monthly.
The program allows you to open/save results in Excel, as well as in the form of visual graphs.
NetWorx is not only a great program for keeping track of Internet traffic, it also has an interesting feature in the form of setting quotas.
This means that the program can be configured in such a way that when the traffic is exhausted, the program automatically notifies you about it.
How to set a quota
For clarity, it is worth analyzing the process of setting a quota. To do this, right-click on the icon and select “Quota...”.
In my case, the quota is already configured: I set a limit of 50 megabytes, and when traffic is used within 85% of 50 megabytes, a message will appear on the screen indicating that the quota is coming to an end.
With this message we will be notified when we should limit our Internet use to avoid financial losses!
Did you think I wouldn't show the settings? Of course I’ll show you: click the “Configure...” button.
The program has a speed measurement function with which you can measure incoming/outgoing traffic. To start measuring, click on the green triangle.
I recommend this program to all users who have access to limited Internet. With it, you can control your traffic in any direction: both incoming and outgoing.
For a number of reasons I installed the program on Windows XP. But those who have Windows 7 installed should not worry, since this program works stably and without failures on any system.
See you soon, dear friends!