CPU Monitoring with PRTG

The processor or central processing unit (CPU) is a central part of the motherboard. It processes a computer program's incoming commands. A processor chip usually contains multiple "cores," or independent processing units. A quad-core processor, for example, has four CPU cores. Such a processor provides for greater stability and performance. However, because CPU utilization can spike (causing a variety of side effects), it makes sense to monitor the processor separately. The largest CPU manufacturers for computers are Intel and AMD.

There is a CPU in every piece of hardware. Hardware is a central pillar for the stability and performance of a device. It is therefore especially important to monitor the processors of these vital network components. In general, a CPU monitor should cover a company's servers, routers, and switches, at best without vendor lock-in.

PRTG is CPU monitoring software that keeps an eye on the processors of all network devices that support SNMP and also includes preconfigured sensors for manufacturers such as Cisco, IBM, NetApp, Dell, and HPE.

CPU monitoring is crucial for ensuring the optimal performance, reliability, and efficiency of a computer system. Here are several key reasons why CPU monitoring is important:

• Performance optimization: Monitoring CPU usage helps identify processes that consume excessive resources, which can slow down the system. By identifying these processes, you can take corrective actions, such as terminating or optimizing them.
• Preventing overheating: CPUs generate heat during operation. Monitoring CPU temperatures helps prevent overheating, which can lead to thermal throttling, system instability, or hardware damage.
• System stability: High CPU usage over extended periods can cause applications to crash or freeze. Monitoring CPU metrics helps maintain stability by allowing you to address resource bottlenecks in real-time.
• Improving resource allocation: In multi-tasking or multi-user environments, CPU monitoring ensures that resources are distributed fairly and efficiently, avoiding over-allocation to specific processes or users.
• Proactive troubleshooting: Sudden spikes or consistently high CPU usage can indicate underlying problems, such as malware, inefficient code, or hardware failures. Early detection through monitoring helps prevent these issues from escalating.
• Energy efficiency: Monitoring allows you to identify unnecessary background processes or inefficient applications, which can be adjusted or shut down to reduce power consumption, particularly important in energy-sensitive environments.
• Capacity planning: By analyzing CPU utilization trends over time, you can make informed decisions about upgrading hardware, adding more CPUs, or optimizing software to meet future demands.
• Security monitoring: Unexpected CPU usage patterns can be an early indicator of malicious activities such as unauthorized software installations or DDoS attacks.

In PRTG, “sensors” are the basic monitoring elements. One sensor usually monitors one measured value in your network, for example the traffic of a switch port, the CPU load of a server, or the free space on a disk drive. On average, you need about 5-10 sensors per device or one sensor per switch port.