Multi Router Traffic Grapher
Encyclopedia
The Multi Router Traffic Grapher, or just simply MRTG, is free software
for monitoring
and measuring
the traffic load on network
links. It allows the user to see traffic load on a network over time in graphical form.
It was originally developed by Tobias Oetiker and Dave Rand to monitor router traffic, but has developed into a tool that can create graphs and statistics for almost anything.
and can run on Windows
, Linux
, Unix
, Mac OS
and NetWare
.
MRTG is free software licensed under the terms of the GNU General Public License
.
(SNMP) to send requests with two object identifier
s (OIDs) to a device. The device, which must be SNMP-enabled, will have a management information base
(MIB) to look up the OIDs specified. After collecting the information it will send back the raw data encapsulated in an SNMP protocol. MRTG records this data in a log on the client along with previously recorded data for the device. The software then creates an HTML
document from the logs, containing a list of graphs detailing traffic for the selected device.
Free software
Free software, software libre or libre software is software that can be used, studied, and modified without restriction, and which can be copied and redistributed in modified or unmodified form either without restriction, or with restrictions that only ensure that further recipients can also do...
for monitoring
Network monitoring
The term network monitoring describes the use of a system that constantly monitors a computer network for slow or failing components and that notifies the network administrator in case of outages...
and measuring
Network traffic measurement
In computer networks, network traffic measurement is the process of measuring the amount and type of traffic on a particular network. This is especially important with regard to effective bandwidth management.- Tools :...
the traffic load on network
Computer network
A computer network, often simply referred to as a network, is a collection of hardware components and computers interconnected by communication channels that allow sharing of resources and information....
links. It allows the user to see traffic load on a network over time in graphical form.
It was originally developed by Tobias Oetiker and Dave Rand to monitor router traffic, but has developed into a tool that can create graphs and statistics for almost anything.
Distribution
MRTG is written in PerlPerl
Perl is a high-level, general-purpose, interpreted, dynamic programming language. Perl was originally developed by Larry Wall in 1987 as a general-purpose Unix scripting language to make report processing easier. Since then, it has undergone many changes and revisions and become widely popular...
and can run on Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
, Linux
Linux
Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...
, Unix
Unix
Unix is a multitasking, multi-user computer operating system originally developed in 1969 by a group of AT&T employees at Bell Labs, including Ken Thompson, Dennis Ritchie, Brian Kernighan, Douglas McIlroy, and Joe Ossanna...
, Mac OS
Mac OS
Mac OS is a series of graphical user interface-based operating systems developed by Apple Inc. for their Macintosh line of computer systems. The Macintosh user experience is credited with popularizing the graphical user interface...
and NetWare
Novell NetWare
NetWare is a network operating system developed by Novell, Inc. It initially used cooperative multitasking to run various services on a personal computer, with network protocols based on the archetypal Xerox Network Systems stack....
.
MRTG is free software licensed under the terms of the GNU General Public License
GNU General Public License
The GNU General Public License is the most widely used free software license, originally written by Richard Stallman for the GNU Project....
.
SNMP
MRTG uses the Simple Network Management ProtocolSimple Network Management Protocol
Simple Network Management Protocol is an "Internet-standard protocol for managing devices on IP networks. Devices that typically support SNMP include routers, switches, servers, workstations, printers, modem racks, and more." It is used mostly in network management systems to monitor...
(SNMP) to send requests with two object identifier
Object identifier
In computing, an object identifier or OID is an identifier used to name an object . Structurally, an OID consists of a node in a hierarchically-assigned namespace, formally defined using the ITU-T's ASN.1 standard. Successive numbers of the nodes, starting at the root of the tree, identify each...
s (OIDs) to a device. The device, which must be SNMP-enabled, will have a management information base
Management information base
A management information base is a virtual database used for managing the entities in a communications network. Most often associated with the Simple Network Management Protocol , the term is also used more generically in contexts such as in OSI/ISO Network management model...
(MIB) to look up the OIDs specified. After collecting the information it will send back the raw data encapsulated in an SNMP protocol. MRTG records this data in a log on the client along with previously recorded data for the device. The software then creates an HTML
HTML
HyperText Markup Language is the predominant markup language for web pages. HTML elements are the basic building-blocks of webpages....
document from the logs, containing a list of graphs detailing traffic for the selected device.
Script output
Alternatively, MRTG can be configured to run a script or command, and parse its output for counter values. The MRTG website contains a large library of external scripts to enable monitoring of SQL database statistics, firewall rules, CPU fan RPMs, or virtually any integer-value data.Features
- Measures two values (I for Input, O for Output) per target.
- Gets its data via an SNMPSimple Network Management ProtocolSimple Network Management Protocol is an "Internet-standard protocol for managing devices on IP networks. Devices that typically support SNMP include routers, switches, servers, workstations, printers, modem racks, and more." It is used mostly in network management systems to monitor...
agent, or through the output of a command line. - Typically collects data every five minutes (it can be configured to collect data less frequently).
- Creates an HTMLHTMLHyperText Markup Language is the predominant markup language for web pages. HTML elements are the basic building-blocks of webpages....
page per target that features four graphs (GIF or PNG images). - Results are plotted vs time into day, week, month and year graphs, with the I plotted as a full green area, and the O as a blue line.
- Automatically scales the Y axis of the graphs to show the most detail.
- Adds calculated Max, Average and Current values for both I and O to the target's HTML page.
- Can also send warning emails if targets have values above a certain threshold.
See also
- RRDtoolRRDtoolRRDtool aims to handle time-series data like network bandwidth, temperatures, CPU load, etc...
- reimplementation of MRTG's graphing and logging features - MuninMunin (Network Monitoring Application)Munin is a network/system monitoring application that presents output in graphs through a web interface. Its emphasis is on plug and play capabilities. About 500 monitoring plugins are currently available. Using Munin you can monitor the performance of your computers, networks, SANs, and...
- another monitoring application with web interface, based on RRDtool - PRTGPaessler Router Traffic GrapherPaessler Router Traffic Grapher is a network monitoring and bandwidth usage software for Microsoft Windows by Paessler AG. It can monitor and classify bandwidth usage in a network using SNMP, Packet Sniffing and Netflow...
- Windows GUI implementation of MRTG's functionality (limited freeware version available) - Routers2Routers2- Summary :The Routers2 software provides a web-based front-end for Tobi Oetiker's MRTG software. When MRTG is run in combination with the RRDtool database, it requires a front-end application to present the data graphically....
- Web front-end for MRTG/RRDtool combination - Cacti - A similar tool using RRDtoolRRDtoolRRDtool aims to handle time-series data like network bandwidth, temperatures, CPU load, etc...
. - ObserviumObserviumObservium is a PHP/MySQL-based Network Observation and Monitoring System which collects data from devices using SNMP and presents it via a web interface. It makes heavy use of the RRDtool package. Observium has a number of simple core design goals driving its development: minimum interaction,...
- A heavily automated platform for network graphing using RRDtoolRRDtoolRRDtool aims to handle time-series data like network bandwidth, temperatures, CPU load, etc...
External links
- MRTG Home page
- Helpful page with example MRTG grabs and explanations.
- Solaris MRTG examples
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux MRTG Configuration HOW-TO
- MRTGEXT module for supporting MRTG and Nagios monitoring systems on Novell Servers project
- Trend View a MRTG Frontend for Windows
- MRTG-XTRA, a Windows distribution of MRTG --DISCONTINUED--