PRTG

PRTG Network Monitor is a network monitoring software developed by Paessler AG. It is designed to monitor the performance and availability of IT infrastructure, including networks, servers, virtual environments, and applications.

Central to PRTG is the sensor concept: every monitored metric is a sensor. The software uses multiple protocols to collect data, and can automatically discover devices and map relationships. Licensing is based on the number of sensors; a free version supports up to 100 sensors, while paid licenses scale with sensor counts.

Architecture and deployment: PRTG runs a core server on Windows and can use remote probes to monitor distributed locations. It supports distributed monitoring, web-based access, and mobile dashboards. Data is stored in a built-in database and presented through web interfaces and reports.

Features include auto-discovery, dependency mapping, customizable dashboards and maps, alerting and escalation, and reporting. Notifications can be sent by email, SMS, push, or webhooks, and users can define thresholds, maintenance windows, and user groups.

Data collection methods cover SNMP, WMI, SSH, HTTP, and various flow technologies such as NetFlow, sFlow, and IPFIX, as well as packet sniffing. PRTG also provides RESTful APIs and a configurable dashboard for integration with other systems.

History and reception: developed by Paessler AG, a German software company, PRTG has been widely adopted by enterprise IT teams and MSPs for its ease of setup and extensive sensor library. Critics sometimes cite licensing costs and scalability considerations at very large deployments.