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Argus
What Argus is
Argus is an open-source network audit system that generates flow data from network traffic. It consists of a packet-processing sensor and data-processing programs called argus-clients. The sensor can process packets on the wire or in captures; clients can be combined into real-time pipelines or used for analytics. Argus data includes over 175 attributes covering network identification, services, resource use, and packet dynamics. The project describes uses in network security, performance analysis, operations management, forensics, machine learning, and research. Its flow data encompasses NetFlow, Jflow, Qflow, Kflow, IPFIX, and historical flow-tools formats. Data can be stored in filesystem archives or MySQL tables, including both approaches together. Clients support country-code lookup through InterNIC databases and can be configured to use MaxMind GeoIP libraries and databases. The ranonymize client can anonymize addresses and other fields, though the project warns this is not perfect anonymization. Argus is released under GPLv2, with other licensing options available by contacting the project. General binary distributions are no longer provided; users can build from source, and some Linux variants provide maintained packages.
Who it suits
It suits network teams and researchers who need to generate and analyze flow data from live traffic or captures. Its self-hosted deployment and source-based distribution may suit users prepared to build or obtain a maintained package.
What it does well
- Processes packets on the wire or in captures.
- Flow data includes over 175 attributes.
- Clients can form real-time pipelines or support analytics.
- Supports filesystem archives and MySQL tables.
- Includes an address-anonymization client.
What to know first
- General binary distributions are no longer provided.
- Default anonymization is not perfect.
- Source requires libpcap and GNU bison.
Limits
The project no longer provides general binary distributions, and source builds require libpcap and GNU bison. ranonymize does not provide perfect anonymization; payload capture is configurable and disabled by default.
Getting started
- Visit the Argus project website.
- Choose Linux, macOS or Windows for a self-hosted deployment.
- Build packages from source, or check whether your Linux variant maintains a package.
- Install the required libpcap and GNU bison dependencies when building from source.
- Use the argus sensor to process live traffic or packet captures, then use argus-clients for pipelines or analysis.
Verdict
Argus combines packet sensing with client programs for flow pipelines and analysis, with several storage and geolocation options. Users should account for its source-build requirements and the project's warning that anonymization is imperfect.
Questions
How much does Argus cost?
Argus is free and open source. It is released under GPLv2, and the project says other licensing options are available by contacting it.
Which platforms does Argus support?
The listed platforms are Linux, macOS, Windows and self-hosted deployment.
Does Argus have a free plan or trial?
Argus is free. No free trial is offered.
What flow formats does Argus handle?
The project describes support for Argus, NetFlow, J-Flow, Q-Flow, K-Flow and IPFIX.
Where can Argus data be stored?
Records can be kept in native filesystem archives, MySQL tables, or both together.
Can Argus anonymize network data?
The ranonymize client can anonymize network addresses and other fields, but its default protection is not perfect.
Facts from Argus's own pages
- Analysis
- Argus flow records are used for network security, performance analysis, operations management, forensics, and machine learning. · openargus.org, 8 Oct 2026
- Anonymization
- The ranonymize client can anonymize network addresses and other fields, but the maker cautions that its default protection is not perfect. · openargus.org, 8 Oct 2026
- Components
- The system consists of the Argus packet processing sensor and the argus-clients data processing programs. · openargus.org, 8 Oct 2026
- Data storage
- Argus data can be stored in filesystem archives or MySQL tables, and the maker describes using both together. · openargus.org, 8 Oct 2026
- Dependency and remote access
- Argus source requires libpcap and GNU bison, and the maker says it can be linked with cyrus-sasl for remote access security. · openargus.org, 8 Oct 2026
- Distribution
- The project says it no longer provides general binary distributions; users can build packages from source, and some Linux variants provide maintained packages. · openargus.org, 7 Oct 2026
- Flow attributes
- The maker says Argus data includes over 175 attributes covering network identification, services, resource utilization, and packet dynamics. · openargus.org, 8 Oct 2026
- Flow data
- The site says Argus data has over 175 attributes covering network identification, services, resource utilization, and packet dynamics. · openargus.org, 7 Oct 2026
- Geolocation
- Argus clients support country-code lookup through InterNIC databases and can be configured to use MaxMind GeoIP libraries and databases. · openargus.org, 8 Oct 2026
- Headquarters
- New York, New York, United States · openargus.org, 28 Sept 2026
- Integrations
- The clients can use InterNIC country-code databases and can be configured to use MaxMind GeoIP libraries and databases. · openargus.org, 7 Oct 2026
- License
- Argus is released under GPLv2, and the maker invites inquiries about other licensing options. · openargus.org, 8 Oct 2026
- Payload capture
- Payload capture in flow records is configurable and disabled by default; the maker says anonymization removes payload data. · openargus.org, 8 Oct 2026
- Platforms
- The maker says Linux packages are available and mentions source compilation on Mac OS X, Unix, and Cygwin-enabled Windows; endpoint sensor binaries for Windows and macOS are available upon request. · openargus.org, 8 Oct 2026
- Privacy
- The ranonymize client can anonymize network addresses and other fields by default, but the site warns this is not perfect anonymization. · openargus.org, 7 Oct 2026
- Processing
- The sensor can process packets on the wire or in captures, and the clients can be combined into real-time data pipelines or used for analytics. · openargus.org, 7 Oct 2026
- Protocols and formats
- The maker describes Argus data as a superset of flow technologies including NetFlow, Jflow, Qflow, Kflow, and IPFIX. · openargus.org, 8 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Argus is an open source network audit system that generates flow records from network traffic. · openargus.org, 8 Oct 2026
- Storage
- The site describes storing Argus data in native filesystem archives or MySQL tables, including use of both approaches together. · openargus.org, 7 Oct 2026
- Support
- The project provides announcement and development mailing lists and directs users to mailing lists or QoSient for contact. · openargus.org, 8 Oct 2026
- Supported flow formats
- The site describes Argus data as encompassing NetFlow, Jflow, Qflow, Kflow, IPFIX, and historical flow-tools formats. · openargus.org, 7 Oct 2026
- Uses
- The project says Argus data has been used for network security, performance analysis, operations management, machine learning, and network research. · openargus.org, 7 Oct 2026