Network monitoring tools are indispensable helpers for every system administrator. They enable quick responses to abnormal activity within the LAN and provide full visibility into network processes, helping automate routine administrative tasks, particularly those related to network security. Let’s see which programs for monitoring the local network are the most relevant.
Network Olympus operates as a service and has a web-based interface, providing greater flexibility and convenience. Its main feature is the scenario builder that enables you to efficiently create monitoring workflows of virtually any complexity to accurately detect issues and automate their resolution.
A scenario is a type of workflow based on a sensor, allowing you to build logic chains that will, depending on the result of a check, generate different notifications and actions to resolve issues. Each chain element can be edited at any time, and changes apply immediately to all of the devices assigned to the scenario. All network activity is recorded in logs and reports.
If you have a small network, then you won’t even need to buy a license: The program will work in free mode.
 Pros |
 Cons |
| Free under 100 assets | Web interface only |
| Easy to set up | Only Windows installation |
| Gradual learning curve | No multi-user access |
| Workflow maker | |
| Group-based sensors |
Lansweeper is fully integrated with Windows-based systems and essentially functions as a network scanner. Remarkably, it’s not necessary for the system administrator to be in the office in order to carry out network configuration tasks, as this can be done remotely. They won’t even need to install any agents on office equipment: the program automatically identifies all devices on the same network.
A useful feature of this application is the ability to schedule tasks via the event log: from regular software updates to scanning assets for viruses, worms and other malicious software. However, the free version of Lansweeper provides very limited capabilities, and paid licenses are relatively expensive.
| Pros |
Cons |
| Free under 100 assets | High price |
| Ease of setup | Heavy system load |
| Accessibility | No multi-language support |
| Helpdesk | Limited deployment features |
Nagios is an advanced monitoring solution managed via a web interface. It’s not easy to learn, but thanks to its rather large online community and well-developed documentation, it can be mastered in a few weeks.
With the help of Nagios, system administrators can remotely manage system load on user devices and higher-level equipment (switches, routers, servers), and also monitor database memory usage, monitor hardware parameters (e.g. motherboard temperature, as motherboard overheating is a common cause of failure), etc.
As for the detection of network anomalies, Nagios automatically sends alerts to the addresses specified by the system administrator, such as an email address or mobile phone number. A free demo version is available for 60 days.
| Pros |
Cons |
| High flexibility | Time-consuming setup |
| Useful templates | Not suitable for large organizations |
| Integration with other apps |
PRTG is a Windows-compatible network monitoring solution. It’s not free (unless you count its 30-day trial period). This software can be used not only to scan devices currently connected to the LAN, but also to help detect attacks.
PRTG's most useful network services include packet inspection, analyzing and storing statistical data in a database, viewing the network map in real time (you can also get historical information about network behavior), collecting device metrics, as well as analyzing the load on network equipment. It is also very convenient to use: primarily due to its intuitive user interface, which can be opened using any browser. If necessary, the system administrator can also access the application remotely via a web interface.
| Pros |
Cons |
| Lots of features | High price |
| Customizable dashboards | Complex to use |
| Flexible monitoring | No separate database |
| Network mapper | No group sensors |
The Zabbix monitoring system is a universal open source network monitoring solution that can be configured for virtually any network environment. Generally, it’s intended for systems that have multi-server architecture (in particular, Zabbix integrates with Linux/FreeBSD/Windows servers).
This application allows you to simultaneously manage hundreds of nodes, which makes it an extremely effective tool for streamlining the work of system administrators in large enterprises. To deploy Zabbix on your LAN, you will need to either run software agents (daemons) or use the SNMP protocol (or other secure remote access protocols). Management is handled through a PHP-based web interface, which requires some familiarity.
In addition, this software provides a complete set of tools for monitoring the status of network hardware. It’s worth mentioning that in order to fully experience all the advantages of this solution, system administrators need at least basic knowledge of Perl, Python, or other supported languages.
| Pros |
Cons |
| Free | Limited Windows support |
| Easy to install | Not user-friendly |
| Extensive plugin ecosystem | Slow under high load |
| Robust customization of alerts |
Another tool in this list is TNI. TNI is extremely affordable and effective software for IT asset inventory and monitoring, offering a strong balance between ease of use and functionality. A key component of the professional version of TNI is its sensor system, which performs checks during network scans or via a deployed resident agent on the target system. Sensors allow you to monitor parameters such as CPU load, temperature, free space on hard drives, S.M.A.R.T. disk status, fan speed, and other system metrics.
TNI includes a dedicated Sensors mode that allows you to track various parameters in a single view and monitor changes over time. Various filters, alerts, and tools help you detect equipment issues in a timely manner and respond quickly.
As for the reports, they contain detailed information about each check performed by the selected sensor. Prices start at $150 for up to 25 devices.
| Pros |
Cons |
| Easy to set up | Not the main functionality of the tool |
| Convenient GUI | |
| Inventory module |