Freedom251 › Internet Performance Monitoring Software
SmokePing
What SmokePing is
SmokePing measures network latency, latency distribution, and packet loss, then stores and displays the results. Each measurement sends several test packets and shows round-trip-time variation and packet loss alongside the median. RRDtool supports long-term storage and graph generation, while the web interface provides interactive zooming and a chart mode for highlighting graphs. Probes range from basic ping to web requests and custom protocols; documented examples include DNS, LDAP, SSH, HTTP, HTTPS, and TCP ping. Configurable alarms can trigger on latency patterns. A master/slave deployment can measure targets from multiple sources in parallel, and plug-in probes, alarms, and charting functions support extensions. SmokePing is free software under the GNU General Public License, version 2 or later, and is intended for self-hosted installation. Setup requires Unix, Perl, RRDtool, FPing, and a web server able to run CGI scripts. The official download area lists SmokePing 2.9.0 as a source tarball dated February 19, 2025. The project directs questions to its users mailing list, where the maintainer participates occasionally.
Who it suits
It suits administrators who can run a self-hosted monitoring setup and need to track latency and packet loss across targets. Its prerequisites and CGI-based web interface make it a fit for environments with the listed Unix and web-server components.
What it does well
- Stores long-term data and generates graphs with RRDtool.
- Includes probes for DNS, LDAP, SSH, HTTP, HTTPS, and TCP ping.
- Alarms can trigger on configurable latency patterns.
- Master/slave setup measures from multiple sources.
- Supports plug-in probes, alarms, and charting.
What to know first
- Installation requires Unix, Perl, RRDtool, and FPing.
- Web interface requires a CGI-capable web server.
- Exposing ARGV to the web server can create a security vulnerability.
Limits
SmokePing is free software with a self-hosted installation. It requires Unix, Perl, RRDtool, and FPing, and its web interface requires a web server that can run CGI scripts.
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| SmokePing | Free software under GPL v2 or later · self-hosted installation · requires Unix, Perl, RRDtool, FPing, and a web server for its web interface | Free |
As oss.oetiker.ch lists them, read 9 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Getting started
- Visit https://oss.oetiker.ch/smokeping/
- Prepare Unix, Perl, RRDtool, and FPing
- Install SmokePing as a self-hosted deployment
- Set up a web server that can run CGI scripts for the web interface
- Use the wrapper script when configuring the CGI interface
Verdict
SmokePing provides detailed latency and packet-loss monitoring, with graph navigation, configurable alarms, and distributed measurement options. It requires a self-hosted Unix setup and several software prerequisites.
Questions
How much does SmokePing cost?
The SmokePing plan costs nothing. It is free software under GPL version 2 or later.
Which platforms and deployment options does it support?
The listed platforms are Linux, self-hosted, and web. Installation prerequisites include Unix, Perl, RRDtool, and FPing.
Does SmokePing have a free trial?
No. The listed facts say there is no free trial; SmokePing is offered as free software.
What does SmokePing measure?
It measures, stores, and displays network latency, latency distribution, and packet loss.
Can it send alerts?
It has configurable alarms that can trigger on latency patterns, and email is listed as an alert channel.
Where can users ask for help?
The project directs questions to its SmokePing users mailing list, where the maintainer participates occasionally.
Facts from SmokePing's own pages
- Alarms
- Its alarm system can trigger on configurable latency patterns. · oss.oetiker.ch, 9 Oct 2026
- Current download listing
- The official download area lists SmokePing 2.9.0, dated February 19, 2025, as a source tarball. · oss.oetiker.ch, 9 Oct 2026
- Data detail
- Each measurement sends several test packets and displays round-trip-time variation and packet loss alongside the median. · oss.oetiker.ch, 9 Oct 2026
- Deployment requirements
- The installation guide lists Unix, Perl, RRDtool, and FPing as prerequisites, and the web interface requires a web server that can run CGI scripts. · oss.oetiker.ch, 9 Oct 2026
- Distributed monitoring
- A master/slave deployment can measure targets from multiple sources in parallel. · oss.oetiker.ch, 9 Oct 2026
- Extensibility
- SmokePing supports plug-in probes, alarms, and charting functions. · oss.oetiker.ch, 9 Oct 2026
- Graph navigation
- The web interface supports interactive graph zooming and chart mode for highlighting interesting graphs. · oss.oetiker.ch, 9 Oct 2026
- License
- SmokePing is free software under the GNU General Public License, version 2 or any later version. · oss.oetiker.ch, 9 Oct 2026
- Long-term graphs
- It uses RRDtool for long-term data storage and graph generation. · oss.oetiker.ch, 9 Oct 2026
- Probe examples
- Documented probes include DNS, LDAP, SSH, HTTP, HTTPS, and TCP ping probes. · oss.oetiker.ch, 9 Oct 2026
- Probes
- Its probes range from simple ping to web requests and custom protocols. · oss.oetiker.ch, 9 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- SmokePing measures, stores, and displays network latency, latency distribution, and packet loss. · oss.oetiker.ch, 9 Oct 2026
- Security note
- The CGI documentation warns that exposing ARGV to the web server can be a security vulnerability and recommends using the wrapper script. · oss.oetiker.ch, 9 Oct 2026
- Support
- The project directs users with questions to its SmokePing users mailing list, where the maintainer says he participates occasionally. · oss.oetiker.ch, 9 Oct 2026
Where SmokePing stands on Freedom251
- Internet Performance Monitoring Software#9 of 30
- Network Monitoring#25 of 55
- Network Testing Software#22 of 33