IPTraf is a console-based network monitoring utility that provides detailed statistics about traffic passing through Linux network interfaces.
Its full-screen, menu-driven interface lets administrators examine network activity without a graphical desktop. The program captures packets through the Linux PF_PACKET interface and organises the results into several monitoring facilities.
IPTraf is particularly useful for examining TCP connections, identifying busy network services and determining which computers generate traffic on a local network.
The original IPTraf project has been superseded by IPTraf-ng, which continues its development. IPTraf remains of historical interest, but IPTraf-ng is the recommended choice for current Linux systems.
This is free and open source software.
Key Features
- IP traffic monitor displays TCP connection information, packet and byte counts, TCP flags and protocol details.
- General interface statistics show packet counts and activity across network interfaces.
- Detailed interface statistics break down traffic by protocol, packet size and errors.
- TCP and UDP service monitor identifies traffic associated with individual service ports.
- LAN station monitor reports activity for detected hosts using their MAC addresses.
- Supports monitoring Ethernet, loopback, PPP, SLIP and other Linux network interfaces.
- Display filters restrict traffic according to network addresses, ports and protocols.
- Supports ICMP, IGMP, OSPF, ARP, RARP and other network protocols.
- Can perform reverse DNS lookups to identify hosts.
- Provides configurable refresh intervals, connection timeouts and logging.
- Offers optional promiscuous-mode monitoring for capturing additional network traffic.
- Supports background operation and logging for unattended monitoring.
Website: iptraf.seul.org
Support:
Developer: Gerard Paul Java
License: GNU General Public License v2.0
Related Software
| Network 'top' Tools | |
|---|---|
| ntopng | Web-based network traffic monitoring application with an open source version |
| NetHogs | Groups bandwidth by process |
| nload | Real time network traffic monitor for the text console |
| IPTraf-ng | Fork of IPTraf |
| iftop | Displays bandwidth usage on an interface by host |
| ntop | Network traffic probe that shows the network usage |
| IPTraf | Interactive Colourful IP LAN Monitor |
| socktop | Remote system monitor with a rich TUI |
Read our verdict in the software roundup.
 LinuxLinks helps you discover the best free and open source software for Linux. Explore our extensive collection of recommended applications, including alternatives to popular proprietary software.We also publish software reviews, Linux tutorials, hardware reviews, free programming books and articles covering the wider open source community. Browse our Linux resources to discover more. Know a useful free and open source Linux application we haven't covered? Suggest a program for inclusion. Has your software been featured on LinuxLinks? Display one of our Featured on LinuxLinks badges on your website or GitHub README. |
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.