PRTG Network Monitor (WATCHDOG)
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Paessler Blog
Streamline your monitoring: Paessler AI tackles sensor similarity & reduces complexity
Keeping your IT monitoring efficient and insightful can feel like a constant battle. Tuning thresholds, managing alerts, and deciding precisely what and how to monitor requires ongoing effort. One common challenge is the accidental creation of redundant or very similar monitoring sensors, cluttering your view and potentially wasting resources. Agentless monitoring tools like PRTG offer a significant advantage here, allowing for Auto discovery and monitoring adjustments without needing to deploy new software everywhere. This ease of use is central to PRTG's approach.
Thin vs Thick Provisioning - Making the right storage choice for your IT infrastructure
Ever stared at the "Disk Provisioning" dropdown when creating a new VM and wondered if it really matters? Trust me, it does. I've spent countless hours dealing with the aftermath of hasty storage decisions, and the choice between thin and thick provisioning can make or break your infrastructure's performance and stability.
All you need to know about the latest PRTG release 25.1.104
A new PRTG release is now available in the stable release channel. This release includes the new Audit Logging feature for PRTG Subscription, default installation of the PRTG application server for new PRTG installations, new sensors like Cisco WLC Access Point Overview sensor, Port v2, SSH INodes Free v2 and PRTG Data Hub as well as an update of the German and Spanish language files.
What are database performance metrics? (and why your SQL queries cry at night)
If databases had therapy sessions, performance metrics would be the therapist's notebook - a brutally honest summary of everything that’s going wrong (and occasionally, what’s going right). Whether you're running Oracle, PostgreSQL, MySQL, or SQL Server, your database performance metrics are the pulse of your entire data infrastructure. And if you’re a seasoned sysadmin, you know that when things go south, it's rarely a polite descent - it’s more of a flaming rollercoaster into bottleneck hell.
Network assessment - Build a stronger and more efficient IT infrastructure
Ever had your network crash during a crucial client presentation? Or discovered a cybersecurity breach that had been lurking for months? Not fun.
Understanding the differences between LDAP and AD
When protocols walk into a bar... An LDAP server and an Active Directory domain controller walk into a bar. LDAP orders a gin - no tonic, no ice, just neat. AD asks for a custom-built cocktail with user authentication, group policy, and a slice of Kerberos on top. The bartender, who looks suspiciously like a stressed-out sysadmin, mutters something about directory dependencies and walks away. If you've been managing user accounts in hybrid IT infrastructures for a few years, you’ve probably crossed paths with both LDAP and Microsoft Active Directory. Maybe you've tried to deploy OpenLDAP in a Linux-based environment or struggled with group policy quirks in a Windows Server setup. Either way, the LDAP vs. AD question is a classic, especially when authentication, permissions, and identity and access management (IAM) come into play.
The importance of vulnerability management for security and compliance
Vulnerability management is one of the most important aspects of a healthy security program. The rapid mitigation of software vulnerabilities, or weaknesses in systems that can be exploited, has become more critical than ever before. Attackers are constantly looking for new ways to exploit vulnerabilities to exfiltrate data or deploy malware to access sensitive information and force businesses to pay steep ransoms for the destruction of the data.Fortinet observed that the average time to exploitation is evolving at just 4.76 days (Manky, 2024). Besides emergent vulnerabilities, it was estimated in 2024 that 40% of observed vulnerabilities being exploited were published at or before 2020 (Censys, 2025).
Network optimization: 10 techniques to transform your digital highway from sluggish to speedy
Ever had that moment when you're about to clinch a deal on a video call, and suddenly your face freezes in what can only be described as your least flattering expression? Or perhaps you've experienced the unique frustration of watching that loading icon spin endlessly while your colleagues wait for you to share your screen? If so, welcome to the club of network optimization enthusiasts – a club nobody actually wants to join until they've experienced digital pain firsthand. 🥲 Network optimization isn't just IT jargon thrown around by folks who enjoy wearing polo shirts with company logos. It's the secret sauce that transforms your digital experience from "Is this thing on?" to "Wow, that was fast!" Let's dive into 10 techniques that can rescue your network from the digital slow lane.
7 layers of the OSI model you can and should monitor with PRTG
Are you maximizing the efficiency of your IT infrastructure? Understanding and monitoring the layers of the OSI model can be your secret weapon in optimizing network performance. With Paessler PRTG, you can keep a watchful eye on each layer to ensure that everything from physical hardware to network traffic is running smoothly.
Paessler PRTG's predictive and proactive AI features
PRTG users benefit from AI-driven anomaly detection to identify and mitigate risks before they impact operations.
Understanding SNMP traps and how to use them in Paessler PRTG
SNMP traps - those little digital messengers that pop up when your network devices have something urgent to tell you. If your servers could text you "HELP!" or "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON," they'd be sending SNMP traps. They're like the nervous neighbor who rings your doorbell at 3 AM because they saw something suspicious – annoying sometimes, but you're always glad they alerted you when there's actually a problem! Understanding how to properly configure and monitor SNMP traps in PRTG can save you countless headaches (and perhaps a few middle-of-the-night emergency calls). So grab your favorite beverage as we dive into the world of asynchronous network notifications – where being interrupted is actually a good thing! 😉
What is infrastructure monitoring? A fresh take for the modern sysadmin
Hey there, fellow tech enthusiast! Ever had that moment when your boss frantically calls because "the website is down" or users are complaining that "everything is slow"? Of course you have - we've all been there. That's where infrastructure monitoring swoops in like the superhero of the IT world, minus the cape (though you might feel like wearing one after you've saved the day 🦸♂️).
When a machine stops, money burns: how Dätwyler mitigates this risk through convergent IT and OT monitoring with PRTG
When a machine breaks down, the cost goes beyond just fixing it. Production halts, supply chains get disrupted, and delays become expensive. Dätwyler, a company with a long history in cable manufacturing that has since evolved into a provider of IT and OT solutions, knows this all too well. Their approach? Smart monitoring with Paessler PRTG.
Monitoring syslog facilities with Paessler PRTG Network Monitor
When it comes to network monitoring, monitoring logs is crucial for maintaining security and operational visibility. Syslog, a standard protocol for message logging, offers many advantages for transmitting, centralizing and managing different types of log messages.
5 common myths about Open Source monitoring tools
Behind the unassuming-looking doors of IT departments around the world, where tech challenges never seem to end, sysadmins are the real MVPs keeping everything running smoothly. But even the most seasoned sysadmin can get caught up in the common myths surrounding open source monitoring tools. It's time to separate fact from fiction with a pinch of humor and a dash of technical know-how. So grab your coffee, settle in, and let's dive into the world of network monitoring with a smile. 🍵
