How to monitor network traffic 1

[lamsf]

How can I monitor the network traffic?
Is there any tools which I can use?

I would like to monitor the network performance, like bandwidth, throughput, etc.

Any suggestions?
Thanks a lot.

 

[Grenage]

Have a google for MRTG, it's excellent for querying SNMP devices such as switches and other network devices (that support SNMP).

Carlsberg don't run I.T departments, but if they did they'd probably be more fun.

 

[lamsf]

Thanks Grenage. I will look into MRTG.
Actually, I plan to sniff a port (maybe use tcpdump) and would like a tool which can analyze the traffic and probably plot charts to show its performance, etc.
And, I prefer this to be an open source tool.
Thanks a lot...

 

[Grenage]

Have a look here:

http://www.ethereal.com/

It's an excellent tool; it's free, but I don't remember if it's open-source.

Carlsberg don't run I.T departments, but if they did they'd probably be more fun.

 

[LawnBoy]

Ethereal is an excellent analysis tool (now called WireShark,

http://www.wireshark.org/)

It is open-source but as far as I know it does not plot charts. It's more intended as a troubleshooting tool.

Solarwinds

http://www.solarwinds.net/

makes some great products but I don't think any of them are open-source.

 

[Grenage]

I will second Solarwinds. Comes at a price, though!

Carlsberg don't run I.T departments, but if they did they'd probably be more fun.

 

[LawnBoy]

<blatant plug>
Gee, if you were running HP Procurve switches you could be using the free Procurve Manager and it will do just what you want.
</blatant plug>

I love my HP switches.

 

[Grenage]

Procurve are nice switches, we have some of their larger, modular switches - can't fault them. Tools such as MRTG/Solarwinds are great for cross-platform compatibility though, just need the SNMP service on the device you want to monitor; especially for central management.

Carlsberg don't run I.T departments, but if they did they'd probably be more fun.

 

[cormon]

ntop is what you are looking for . Really good at graphs and very granular . last but not least its open source !!

 

[lamsf]

Thanks for all the suggestion given.

Now I am looking into ntop.
I hv downloaded ntop from

http://www.SourceForge.net,

the file called ntop-3.3rc1.tgz.

Any idea what do I do next to get it working?
I would like to put it on Redhad Linux.

Thanks a lot.