Comparison of PRTG vs MRTG & their Differences for Traffic Graphing and Monitoring

The endless debate of which software package is better than the other will never cease to amaze us, but we'd like to bring “PRTG vs MRTG” comparison and debate to halt – as we did here against Nagios.

Each software package has their pro's and con's and at the end of the day, using one or the other will help you get a better understanding of what's going on in your infrastructure and network environment.

Pretty graphs and trends are just the tip of the iceberg when looking at the differences between these two software packages as we'll dive deeper into how they each perform crucial network management and monitoring tasks and map those results in a way that is easy to digest and compare to past trends.

For many of us admins and network engineers, seeing pretty graphs helps us visualize what is happening in our networks and triggers us to either troubleshoot certain elements within our infrastructure or plan for future growth by looking at past trends.

Like they say, “A picture is worth a thousand words”, so lets get into how each system breaks down the graphical representation of our servers, bandwidth usage, and much more.

MRTG Screenshot

As you can see from above, MRTG shows you general graphs of each individual network port you have specified to collect data from.

Key Features

• Versatile Data Collection: Employs packet sniffing, WMI, and SNMP to deliver comprehensive network performance insights.
• Dynamic Autodiscovery: Automatically detects and reflects changes in network inventory, keeping data up-to-date.
• Customizable Interface: Offers a drag-and-drop editor for easy creation of tailored views and reports.
• Multiple Alert Options: Supports an array of notification methods including SMS, email, and integrations with third-party tools.
• Freeware Availability: Provides a version of the software that can be used free of charge, offering essential features at no cost.

PRTG Screenshot

PRTG on the other hand, gives you a screen to choose any interface from any device you would like to view bandwidth or traffic from quickly and easily.

Key Features:

• User-Friendly Interface: Provides an intuitive selection screen for easy monitoring of bandwidth and traffic across any device interface.
• Lightweight Application: Designed for minimal system impact, ensuring efficient performance without overloading resources.
• NetFlow Analysis Support: Includes capabilities for analyzing network traffic using NetFlow, aiding in comprehensive network traffic management.
• Versatile Reporting: Offers a variety of reporting options to suit different user preferences and requirements.

Some major considerations to take in mind when comparing the two is how comfortable you are with manual edits of configuration files and manually installing, removing and updating files within a Linux based system, considering the fact that MRTG does require Linux if you opt for that version, although it does have a Windows compatible installer as well.

Whichever OS you choose, there will be considerable manual editing of files to configure MRTG properly in order for it to interface with your networked devices.

The upside to all the manual configurations and installation headaches is the Price: FREE.

Although there isn't as much support and community as there used to be, their mailing list and Gitter channel still seem to be alive.

As for PRTG, if you are looking for a more streamlined process of installation and Automatic network discovery, this is your ticket.

Migrating away from MRTG has proven to several firms that there is a Cost-of-Ownership cut of 80%, according to several case studies. This could very well be the biggest reason to switch over to a paid solution due to its Enterprise commercial support, Pre-built templates for Hardware, Servers, Switches, Routers, and more, and the relatively easy setup and configuration We've compiled a list of MRTG alternatives for those who are looking for other solutions.

PRTG is Free up to 100 Sensors and their pricing model is actually very Competitive thereafter – You can Download it Here FREE!)

Here's a Breakdown of the differences between PRTG vs MRTG: