PRTG Network Monitor (Free Edition): Your Small-Network Lifesaver
Overview
Alright, picture this: you’ve got a handful of switches, routers, maybe a couple of servers, and you need to know—right now—if something’s choking on bandwidth or about to drop off the grid. That’s where PRTG Free Edition by Paessler comes in. It’s not the full-blown enterprise beast, but it covers 100 sensors—more than enough for many small shops—without costing you a penny. You get uptime checks, traffic graphs, CPU/memory stats, even custom script results via SNMP, WMI, SSH, or simple HTTP calls. And yes, it all lives in a neat web UI with drag-and-drop dashboards and custom maps.
Core Features You’ll Actually Use
| Feature | Why It Matters |
| 100 Free Sensors | Monitor interfaces, services, apps—up to 100 bits of data on the house. |
| Agentless Collection | No need to install anything on your routers or switches—just SNMP/WMI/SSH. |
| Auto-Discovery Wizard | Point it at an IP range, and watch it unpack your network map for you. |
| Threshold Alerts | Set your “uh-oh” levels and get pinged via email, SMS, or mobile push. |
| Custom Dashboards & Maps | Drag sensors onto a canvas, rearrange as you like—network visibility in a glance. |
| Scheduled Reports | PDF or HTML exports on your timetable; handy for weekly ops reviews. |
| API & Custom Sensors | Got a bespoke script? Hook it in, and PRTG will treat its output like any other sensor. |
| Failover/HA Option | (Paid add-on) Keep monitoring alive even if your primary server takes a nap. |
When You’ll Reach for It
- You’ve got under 100 metrics to watch and zero budget for fancy licensing.
- You need to spin up monitoring quickly—no agents, no fuss.
- You want a single pane of glass for SNMP, WMI, SSH, and HTTP checks.
- You’re tired of manual spreadsheet reports and crave automated exports.
- You’d like proactive alerts before the help-desk calls you.
What You’ll Need
| Requirement | Detail |
| Server | Windows Server 2012 R2+ (or Windows 10/11 for test rigs). |
| Hardware | A couple of CPU cores, 4 GB RAM, ~250 MB disk—nothing extravagant. |
| Browser | Any modern browser: Chrome, Firefox, Edge. |
| Network | SNMP, WMI, SSH, HTTP(S) ports open between PRTG and devices. |
| Credentials | Local admin on PRTG box; domain admin for WMI checks. |
Quick-Start How-To
- Grab & Install
- Download the Free Edition installer from paessler.com—just click and run.
- Fire Up the Web UI
- Browse to http://<your-server-IP>/ and log in with default credentials.
- Run the Setup Wizard
- Specify alert email, define IP scan ranges, and supply SNMP/WMI/SSH creds.
- Tweak Your Sensors
- Go to Devices → Auto-Discovery, then delete or fine-tune sensors as needed.
- Build a Map
- Head to Maps → Add Map, drag device icons and live charts onto the canvas.
- Set Your Alerts
- Click a sensor → Notifications, choose triggers (down, warning), pick delivery methods.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Free for 100 sensors—ideal for small networks.
- Agentless roll-out cuts admin overhead.
- Auto-discovery saves setup time.
- Web console means no client installs.
Cons
- 100-sensor cap forces upgrade for larger environments.
- Windows-only core server.
- Built-in DB can slow near the free tier limit.
- Advanced custom sensors need scripting know-how.
Final Thoughts
If your network is small and your budget is zero, PRTG Free Edition is your ally. With quick setup, agentless monitoring, and slick dashboards, it brings pro-level visibility without breaking the bank.
