Network Speed Monitoring with PRTG

Network speed, often referred to as network bandwidth or data transfer rate, is defined as the amount of data that can be transmitted over a network connection in a given period of time. It is typically measured in bits per second (bps), along with larger units like kilobits per second (Kbps), megabits per second (Mbps), and gigabits per second (Gbps).

A 100 Mbps connection means:

• It can theoretically transfer 100 million bits per second.
• If you download a file, this is equivalent to about 12.5 megabytes per second (as 1 byte = 8 bits).

Network speed monitoring is the process of measuring and tracking the performance of a network in terms of its speed, bandwidth utilization, latency, and other related metrics. The goal is to ensure the network operates efficiently, troubleshoot performance issues, and optimize resource usage.

Key components of network speed monitoring include:

• Bandwidth monitoring: Tracks the amount of data being sent and received over a network.
• Latency tracking: Measures the delay in data transfer between devices on the network.
• Throughput analysis: Evaluates the actual data transfer rate compared to the maximum bandwidth.
• Packet loss monitoring: Detects if and when data packets fail to reach their destination.
• Jitter analysis: Measures the variability in latency.
• Network traffic analyzer: Monitors how much of the available network capacity is being used and helps prevent overloading and optimize traffic distribution.

Testing network transmission speed is important for a variety of reasons, as it provides valuable insights into the performance, reliability, and efficiency of your network. Here are some key reasons why you should regularly test your network transmission speed:

• Verify internet service provider claims: ISPs often advertise certain speeds for their services (e.g., 100 Mbps). Testing ensures you are receiving the speeds you are paying for.
• Troubleshoot connectivity issues: Issues like slow downloads, buffering in video streams, or lag in online games may stem from poor network performance. Testing can help isolate whether the problem lies in your network, the server, or the application you are using.
• Optimize network performance: Testing reveals how well your network handles different types of traffic and whether there is sufficient bandwidth for all connected devices.
• Plan for upgrades: As more devices and services rely on your network, the demand for bandwidth increases. Testing helps assess whether your current plan and hardware can support growing demands or if upgrades are needed.
• Detect security threats: Unusually slow network speeds can sometimes indicate malware, unauthorized usage, or distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks.

1. Create three HTTP Advanced sensors for various files found on different servers.
2. Let the sensors run for a few hours in 5-minute intervals.
3. The sensor overview provides the bandwidth speed in kbps during the download.

You’ll get a good feel for the possible transmission speed, even if the actual bandwidth is unable to be determined with 100% accuracy. Be sure to practice good judgment when carrying out this procedure to avoid putting unnecessary strain on your data line.

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.