MRTG

What MRTG is

MRTG monitors traffic on network links by reading router counters with SNMP, then producing HTML pages with PNG graphs. It can also track any SNMP variable or data supplied by an external program. Its views cover daily traffic, seven-day, five-week, and twelve-month periods, and a consolidated log keeps relevant traffic data for the last two years without growing over time. MRTG’s documentation describes monitoring 200 or more links from a reasonably capable UNIX machine. It includes a Perl SNMP implementation, supports SNMPv2c 64-bit counters, and offers tools to automate configuration and setup. You can also configure the appearance of the generated webpages, and built-in hooks let you use RRDtool.

MRTG is free under the GNU General Public License and is designed for self-hosted use. Listed platforms include Linux, Windows, and web. The project dates to 1994 and is associated with Olten, Switzerland. The maker lists user, announcement, and developer mailing lists, along with Usenet and IRC channels. For Windows installation, the guide requires a current copy of Perl.

Who it suits

MRTG suits network administrators who want to monitor link traffic and review it through generated graphs over several time periods. It can also serve users tracking other SNMP variables or data gathered by an external program, with support for self-hosted deployment.

Limits

MRTG is free under the GNU General Public License. Its consolidated log retains relevant traffic data for the last two years without growing over time.

Getting started

1. Visit the MRTG website.
2. Choose a listed platform: Linux, Windows, web, or self-hosted.
3. For Windows installation, obtain a current copy of Perl.
4. Use MRTG’s automatic configuration and setup tools.

Verdict

Choose MRTG if you need a free, self-hosted way to graph network traffic or other SNMP data, with long-range views and configurable webpages. Windows users also need a current copy of Perl.