Looking further into MRTG, it is possible to find out exactly how the system works. With this information, it is possible to find other network monitors that work in exactly the same way and have better features and more sophisticated graphics.

Here is our list of the seven best MRTG alternatives:

  • SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor EDITOR’S CHOICE An SNMP-based network monitor that tracks network device health and includes diagnostics tools. It runs on Windows Server. Start a 30-day free trial.
  • Paessler PRTG (FREE TRIAL) A three-in-one monitoring system that includes SNMP monitoring with some great network plotting tools. It runs on Windows Server. Start a 30-day free trial.
  • ManageEngine OpManager A leading network monitoring system that has data visualizations and analytical features as well as live data scanning. It installs on Windows Server and Linux.
  • Spiceworks A free, ad-supported network monitoring system with live data sweeps and analytical functions. It runs on Windows and Windows Server.
  • Datadog Network Performance Monitoring A cloud-based system monitoring tool that includes SNMP procedures and system security options.
  • Zabbix An attractive, free infrastructure monitor that receives SNMP messages to check on device statuses. It runs on Linux, Unix, and macOS.
  • Atera A complete solution for managed service providers that includes SNMP monitoring. This is a cloud-based system.

All about MRTG

MRTG is a network monitor. It also gives information on network device statuses, such as toner level for printers or processing capacity for switches. MRTG shows a graph of network traffic over time.

The MRTG data gathering system stores each network performance snapshot in log files to enable it to assemble its graphs. The data retention period for these logs is two years. However, data gets compressed and summarized over time, with more detail available for newer records than for past periods. The user can ask for a data transfer rate graph for seven days, five weeks, a year, or two years.

The graphs that MRTG produces are embedded into a web page format and they can be viewed with any standard web browser. These views are not updated live but are generated on-demand or on a schedule.

MRTG data sources

The data for the graphs that MRTG creates come from reports sent to the software over the network with the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) procedures. All network devices are shipped with SNMP capabilities. Each device has a program running on it, which is called the SNMP Agent.

The SNMP system requires the existence of an SNMP Manager. MRTG provides this function. The manager broadcasts a request for reports and when each agent receives this request, it sends back a response with a table full of data on all of the statuses of the device that it runs on.

The SNMP specification lays down the format for this response, with a code for each data field. MRTG dereferences these codes, extracting the related values that it needs for its graph, and then stores an aggregated record of network activity at that moment. Each request/response cycle provides another data point on the graph.

In this guide, we look at monitoring tools that offer network traffic graphs the same as MRTG, but also show live data and include alerts.

The best MRTG alternatives

To compile this list, we focused on network monitoring tools that use SNMP and generate great graphs. Unlike MRTG, these tools give constantly updated live data throughput graphs.

Although most of the tools in this list are not free like MRTG, they are well worth the money and you can compare the paid tools to free options by taking out the free trial that they offer.

With these selection criteria in mind, we looked for network performance monitors that use SNMP to discover network devices, map the network, and perform continuous monitoring.

Our methodology for selecting an MRTG alternative 

We reviewed the market for Multi Router Traffic Grapher alternatives and analyzed tools based on the following criteria:

  • A network device discovery routine
  • A network mapper
  • An SNMP-based device monitor
  • Time-series performance graphs
  • Alerts for discovered device problems
  • A free trial or a demo option that lets you test the system before buying
  • Value for money from a competent network monitor that is offered at a fair price

1. SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor (FREE TRIAL)

SolarWinds is the leading IT infrastructure monitoring system provider and its core product is the Network Performance Monitor. This system is based around SNMP. The benefits of this tool include an autodiscovery function that detects all devices connected to the network and logs them, including attributes such as make and model, addresses, and capacity. The inventory is updated constantly and it provides the source for an automatically drawn network topology map.

Key Features:

  • SNMP-based
  • Network discovery
  • Handles Trap messages
  • Provides live performance graphs
  • Alerts for performance problems

The dashboard for the service shows the overall health of each device with color-coded statuses for instant issue recognition. Other features include an alerting mechanism that enables IT staff to leave the monitor to watch over the network, knowing that they will be informed of developing problems as soon as they arise.

SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor installs on Windows Server and it is part of a suite of monitoring and management tools that are written on a common platform, called Orion. Although combining this tool with other modules brings greater capabilities, it can also be used as a standalone system. SolarWinds offers a 30-day free trial.

Pros:

  • Designed with large and enterprise networks in mind
  • Supports auto-discovery that builds network topology maps and inventory lists in real-time based on devices that enter the network
  • Has some of the best alerting features that balance effectiveness with ease of use
  • Supports both SNMP monitoring as well as packet analysis, giving you more control over monitoring than similar tools
  • Uses drag and drop widgets to customize the look and feel of the dashboard
  • Robust reporting system with pre-configured compliance templates

Cons:

  • This is a feature-rich enterprise tool, small LANs and operations may find it overwhelming

2. Paessler PRTG (FREE TRIAL)

EDITOR’S CHOICE

SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor is our top pick as an alternative to MRTG because it gives IT departments full control over all network devices with automated SNMP checks. The tool is a lot more comprehensive than MRTG because it displays statuses live and doesn’t just generate system graphs on demand. The tool also includes analytical functions based on historical data.

Start 30-day Free Trial: solarwinds.com/network-performance-monitor

OS: Windows Server 2016 or later

Paessler is named after its founder, Dirk Paessler, a systems programmer who started developing his own commercial tools. PRTG was developed after Paessler got frustrated by the complexities of installing MRTG. He created PRTG with a similar name but with completely different operating procedures to provide something better.

  • Inspired by MRTG
  • Autodiscovery and topology mapping
  • SNMP data gathering
  • Detection of hardware changes

An SNMP-based data grapher that is still at the core of PRTG was the original service that he created to compete with MRTG.

PRTG is a collection of monitors that cover networks, servers, and applications. The buyer decides which monitors to turn on. The monitors are called sensors and the price of the package goes on the number of sensors that the buyer wants to use. The service is forever free for up to 100 sensors. The software installs on Windows Server and there is a 30-day free trial of PRTG with all sensors activated.

  • Great options for businesses looking for comprehensive networks, applications, and infrastructure monitoring

  • Highly customizable dashboard is great for both lone administrators as well as NOC teams

  • Drag and drop editor makes it easy to build custom views and reports

  • Supports a wide range of alert integrations that are simple to setup

  • Supports a freeware version, great for small businesses

  • Is a very comprehensive platform with many features and moving parts that require time to learn

Paessler PRTG Start 30-day FREE Trial

3. ManageEngine OpManager

ManageEngine is a close competitor of SolarWinds and Paessler and the three companies always fill the top three in everyone’s estimation of the best network monitoring tools. OpManager is the ManageEngine SNMP-based network device monitor. The service includes an autodiscovery function that also produces live maps of the network. The user can select from a range of map layouts and details, which are all available with live data. Problems are highlighted with alerts.

  • Monitors networks and servers
  • SNMP tracking
  • Live performance graphs

OpManager has an attractive dashboard, which includes a summary of the entire network. Each record provides a link through to a details screen and all screens include color-coded graphs and charts.

The software for OpManager is available for Windows Server and Linux. It is available for a 30-day free trial. There is a free edition that will monitor just three devices.

  • Has a freeware version for testing and a smaller network to utilize

  • Uses both SNMP and NetFlow for monitoring giving it more coverage options than other tools

  • Can scale easily, Enterprise package supports up to 10,000 endpoints

  • Supports WAN management alongside the LAN

  • Utilizes automatic network discovery to create live inventories and network maps for administrators to track assets and network size

  • Freeware and paid versions allow for both small and large size networks to effectively use this tool

  • OpManager is dense with features, integrations, and settings, and may take time to fully learn

4. Spiceworks Inventory

Spiceworks Inventory is an asset management system that uses SNMP to track network device statuses. The income strategy of Spiceworks is fairly unique – it displays ads in the user dashboard to fund the product. So, it is free to use, but some people might get annoyed by the ad panel. The ads aren’t general – they all relate to networking utilities.

  • Ad-supported
  • SNMP based
  • Network mapping

Like other SNMP-based network monitoring tools, Spiceworks Inventory generates alerts from SNMP trap messages. The screens are very busy and crowd in a lot of information to provide a single view of all live statistics. Features include autodiscovery and automatic network mapping plus performance graphs. The software for this tool installs on Windows and Windows Server. Spiceworks has a large user community that shares tips and support advice through a community forum. Professional support is also available for a fee.

5. Datadog Network Performance Monitoring

  • Completely free tool

  • Web-based dashboard allows access from virtually anywhere

  • Integrates well into other Spiceworks tools like Spiceworks Inventory and Cloud Desk

  • Alerts are configured by default, allowing users to get actionable insights right away

  • Could be less crowded, specifically around the home dashboard

  • Would like to see more alerting features

  • Lacks integrations into other solutions outside of the Spiceworks ecosystem

Datadog is a SaaS platform that offers many monitoring and system management modules. One of those packages is the Network Performance Monitoring service. This tool provides network device discovery, topology mapping, and traffic monitoring. The tool is able to gather information from a network through the installation of an agent onto a server connected to the LAN.

  • Network mapping
  • Can include internet links
  • Live traffic monitoring

Unlike most monitoring system providers, Datadog splits network device discovery and topology mapping from SNMP device health monitoring – that second part is provided by the Network Device Monitoring service.

From its cloud base, the Network Performance Monitoring service is able to unify the monitoring of networks on multiple sites and the internet links that connect them. It can also track the performance of internet connections to the cloud services that the business uses.

Datadog Network Performance Monitoring is a subscription service with a rate per device per month. You can choose to pay for the service annually to get a lower rate. You can access Datadog Network Performance Monitoring on a 14-day free trial.

  • Adjustable network maps that provide a range of views

  • Traffic volumes written onto each link

  • Alerts for capacity issues before they become critical

  • Device health monitoring is not included

6. Zabbix

Zabbix is a free infrastructure monitoring system. The dashboard for the tool is very attractive, featuring a dark background and brightly-colored graphs. The Zabbix interface is much more graphical than all the other tools on this list, providing a graph or a chart for just about every tracked metric rather than lists of records.

  • Free monitoring tool
  • Device discovery and topology mapping
  • SNMP-based

Network monitoring is based on SNMP and the service includes alerts based on SNMP traps. Thanks to SNMP, Zabbix is also able to provide a device discovery service and the interface is able to create a network topology map, which can be presented in a range of formats.

Zabbix installs on Linux, Unix, or macOS. The system is able to monitor Windows devices, but they will need an agent installed on them. The dashboard module and the main processing engine of the service won’t install on Windows but it could be run on a VM over the Windows operating system.

7. Atera

  • Open-source transparent tool

  • Uses both SNMP and ICMP for a broader monitoring range

  • Can detect new devices and configuration changes immediately

  • Offers useful templates for quick insights

  • Robust notification system supports SMS, email, custom script, and webhook

  • The interface could use improvement, specifically changing the nested folders to something more user friendly

Atera is a cloud-based service that caters to Managed Service Providers (MSPs). The tool bundles together all of the software that an MSP would need and provides it with all supporting resources. So, it could be used by a business that operates a virtual office, with remote, independent support technicians logging into the service from their own bases.

  • Good for managed service providers
  • SNMP-based
  • Processes Traps into alerts

Among the many utilities of the Atera system, network device monitoring uses SNMP to provide constant health checks and create a network inventory. The service also provides alerts based on SNMP traps. One missing element of this service is that it doesn’t include a network topology mapper.

The Atera system integrates a help ticketing system and it is charged for by subscription per technician per month. This is a great bundle for someone who wants to start out as an independent support technician because one technician license gets all of the utilities that the big corporations pay a lot of money for. Users can expand easily by just adding on another technician subscription. Atera is available for a 30-day free trial.

  • Lightweight cloud-based tool

  • Built with MSPs in mind, and includes RMM and PSA tools built-in

  • Dashboard access from any browser makes Atera extremely flexible

  • Can scale and support multiple networks in an organized manner

  • Could use better reporting functionality

  • Automated remediation and automatic ticket assignment could use improvement and more functionality

Choosing an MRTG Alternative

MRTG is free, which is wonderful but sometimes it is better to pay for an improved service than put up with a less comprehensive option. There are many network performance monitors available that rely on SNMP and most of them show live data graphs, which are constantly updated.

Although stored data over time is good for performance analysis and capacity planning, systems that offer live data deliver immediate information on network performance while also creating the option to store metrics for analysis.

SNMP contains an emergency notification message format, which is sent by a device agent without waiting for a request. This is called a trap and live network monitors interpret these into alerts. A live network performance monitor with alerts enables the IT department’s technicians to leave the monitor to look after the network. As long as an alarm doesn’t appear, everything can be assumed to be working well.