TCP monitoring with PRTG
Maximum network security, minimum effort
- Monitor TCP ports and data packets in real time
- Get automatically alerted in case of issues
- Increase uptime and enhance network performance
Our users give top ratings for monitoring with Paessler PRTG
PRTG TCP monitoring: What you’ll find on this page
Do you have the full picture?
Monitoring traffic in real time can be tricky even on small networks.
But if you have distributed and virtualized traffic too, well… the challenge factor increases exponentially.
How do you set performance benchmarks in a scenario with so many moving parts? And how do you get a clear view of all the interdependencies that might impact your network's stability and performance?
Paessler PRTG solves these problems by gathering TCP data, TCP/IP data, and other critical metrics from across your network in one place, no matter how complex your setup.
Ideal whether you have a small on-premise network or a large infrastructure with data centers in multiple locations, it can monitor unlimited local, remote, and virtual devices, bringing critical system data together in one simple, intuitive interface you can access from anywhere, saving you time, effort, and headaches.
PRTG makes TCP monitoring as easy as it gets
Custom alerts and data visualization let you quickly identify and prevent low availability, high bandwidth use, downtime, and other network performance issues.
Why PRTG is the TCP monitoring tool of choice for savvy sysadmins
Simple setup
Easy to configure, and even easier to set up. Key in your preferred range of IP addresses and the automatic network discovery will detect connected devices and assign the right sensors. Each sensor is preconfigured, so it works out of the box. But you can customize its settings to suit.
Faster troubleshooting
You shouldn’t have to sift through terabytes of data to pinpoint issues. PRTG's monitoring dashboard brings together mission-critical data in one place, showing you what's going on in real time. And built-in automations alert you if there are issues, while you get on with other tasks.
Greater security
Your performance monitoring data (and network) are in safe hands. PRTG uses SSL encryption and other tough network security measures, including access rights management, SQL injection and cross-site scripting attack protection, and automated logout and re-authentication.
All-in-one monitoring
A clear (and complete) picture of your network in one single monitoring environment – not just TCP monitoring, but also SNMP, ICMP, WMI, SSH, and other protocols, hardware, applications... you get the idea. PRTG simplifies your workflow, saves time, and gives you peace of mind.
What TCP monitoring looks like in PRTG
Diagnose network issues by continuously tracking web, email, DNS servers, databases, routers, switches, firewalls, and other hardware and software components. Show connection times, latency, network traffic, and other key metrics in real time. Visualize monitoring data in clear topology maps and dashboards to identify problems more easily. Gain the overview you need to troubleshoot slow or failed connections, packet loss, and other network performance issues.
Device tree view of the complete monitoring setup
Preconfigured Port v2 sensor in PRTG
Custom PRTG dashboard for keeping an eye on the entire IT infrastructure
Start monitoring TCP ports with PRTG and see how it can make your network more reliable and your job easier.
“All-around winning “The real beauty of PRTG is the endless possibilities it offers” “PRTG Network MonitorIT experts agree: Paessler PRTG is a great solution for IT infrastructure monitoring
network monitor”
is very hard to beat”
Comprehensive TCP monitoring, without the effort
PRTG collects critical data about every device that's connected to your network round the clock, presenting it in easy-to-understand (and completely customizable graphs and dashboards).
That means performance monitoring and pinpointing what's causing an issue are as easy as it gets. PRTG will even alert you automatically if something isn't performing quite as it should.
PRTG's preconfigured TCP monitoring sensors include:
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Port sensors for monitoring TCP port response times, as well as downtime
- Port v2 sensors for monitoring TCP port status (open or closed), downtime, errors, and response times
- Port Range sensors for monitoring how many TCP ports on your network are closed, the amount of downtime, and how long it takes for each port to accept a request
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Ping v2 and Cloud Ping v2, for monitoring availability
Your TCP/IP monitor at a glance – even on the go
Set up PRTG in minutes and use it on almost any mobile device.
Find the root cause of the problem with our PRTG TCP monitoring solution
Real-time notifications mean faster troubleshooting so that you can act before more serious issues occur.
PRTG is compatible with all major vendors, products, and systems
Create innovative solutions with Paessler’s partners
Partnering with innovative vendors, Paessler unleashes synergies to create
new and additional benefits for joined customers.
With ScriptRunner, Paessler integrates a powerful event automation platform into PRTG Network Monitor.
ScriptRunner
“Excellent tool for detailed monitoring. Alarms and notifications work greatly. Equipment addition is straight forward and server initial setup is very easy. ...feel safe to purchase it if you intend to monitor a large networking landscape.”
Infrastructure and Operations Engineer in the Communications Industry, firm size 10B - 30B USD
PRTG makes TCP monitoring as easy as it gets
Custom alerts and data visualization let you quickly identify and prevent low availability, high bandwidth use, downtime, and other network performance issues.
TCP monitoring: FAQ
What is TCP and how does it work?
TCP – Transmission Control Protocol – is a communication protocol that connects network devices to the internet, as well as intranets and extranets. Used by email services, FTP, SSH, streaming media, and other online applications, it tracks data and ensures efficient routing so it reaches the right device as quickly as possible.
What’s the difference between TCP and UDP?
TCP and UDP (User Datagram Protocol) are two fundamental communication protocols in the TCP/IP suite, but they differ significantly in how they handle data transmission.
TCP is connection-oriented. It establishes a connection between sender and receiver before transmitting data and ensures reliable communication through a handshake process. TCP also ensures reliable delivery, since it guarantees that data is delivered without errors, in the correct order, and without duplicates, and it retransmits lost or corrupted packets.
UDP, on the other hand, is connectionless. It does not establish a connection before sending data. Each packet (datagram) is sent independently without prior coordination. Moreover, delivery is unreliable, as UDP does not guarantee that packets are delivered, received in order, or free of errors and does not retransmit or acknowledge packets.
Why monitor TCP connections?
Three reasons.
First, to prevent problems and optimize performance. TCP monitoring enables you to check whether ports, devices, and services are open and responsive (and, if not, why), and to proactively detect and address issues – such as traffic spikes and latency – that might cause service disruptions.
Second, to improve network security. TCP doesn't encrypt data or protect connections from unauthorized access attacks. Real-time monitoring helps you detect suspicious activity and strengthen your defenses.
Third, for capacity planning. TCP monitoring data is a valuable source of information that can help you allocate resources more efficiently and update or upgrade your infrastructure so it keeps up with your organization's needs.
How do I set up TCP monitoring in PRTG?
Connect a sensor close to the endpoint of the device you want to monitor and specify the TCP port and timeout value, then define the sensor behavior, for example whether it should show the status as "Up" when the port is open or closed. That's it. The sensor will keep a close eye on the TCP port and alert you if there are issue.
PRTG’s preconfigured TCP port-monitoring sensors can keep an eye on a single or multiple ports. If you're monitoring multiple TCP ports:
- Specify a port range or list the individual TCP ports you want to monitor
- Set port-by-port delay to define how long the sensor will wait in between checks for each port
What is a sensor in PRTG?
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.
PRTG: The multi-tool for sysadmins
Adapt PRTG individually and dynamically to your needs and rely on a strong API:- HTTP API: Access monitoring data and manipulate monitoring objects via HTTP requests
- Custom sensors: Create your own PRTG sensors for customized monitoring
- Custom notifications: Create your own notifications and send action triggers to external systems
- REST Custom sensor: Monitor almost everything that provides data in XML or JSON format
Paessler conducted trials in over 600 IT departments worldwide to tune its network monitoring software closer to the needs of sysadmins. We asked: would you recommend PRTG?
Over 95% of our customers say yes!
The result of the survey: over 95% of the participants would recommend PRTG – or already have.
Paessler PRTG is used by companies of all sizes. Sysadmins love PRTG because it makes their job a whole lot easier. Bandwidth, servers, virtual environments, websites, VoIP services – PRTG keeps an eye on your entire network. Everyone has different monitoring needs. That’s why we let you try PRTG for free.Still not convinced?
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Start monitoring TCP ports with PRTG and see how it can make your network more reliable and your job easier.
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PRTG |
Network Monitoring Software - Version 24.4.102.1351 (November 12th, 2024) |
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Hosting |
Download for Windows and cloud-based version PRTG Hosted Monitor available |
Languages |
English, German, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Dutch, Russian, Japanese, and Simplified Chinese |
Pricing |
Up to 100 sensors for free (Price List) |
Unified Monitoring |
Network devices, bandwidth, servers, applications, virtual environments, remote systems, IoT, and more |
Supported Vendors & Applications |
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