Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Beats VS Fping (open source)

Compare Beats VS Fping (open source) and see what are their differences

Beats logo Beats

Beats is the platform for single-purpose data shippers that is installed as lightweight agents and send data to machines to Logstash or Elasticsearch.

Fping (open source) logo Fping (open source)

fping is a program to send ICMP echo probes to network hosts, similar to ping, but much better performing when pinging multiple hosts.
  • Beats Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-21
  • Fping (open source) Landing page
    Landing page //
    2020-02-14

Beats features and specs

  • Lightweight Agents
    Beats are designed to be lightweight, which allows them to easily run on edge devices without significantly impacting system performance.
  • Eclectic Set of Data Shippers
    Beats offers a range of specialized shippers like Filebeat, Metricbeat, Packetbeat, and others, each tailored for different types of data collection, ensuring flexibility and efficiency.
  • Easy Integration with Elastic Stack
    Beats seamlessly integrates with other components of the Elastic Stack, like Elasticsearch and Kibana, providing a unified data collection and analysis ecosystem.
  • Extensible and Open Source
    Being open-source, Beats can be extended and customized to meet specific needs, allowing users to modify or enhance functionalities.
  • Community and Support
    Beats has a strong community and offers extensive documentation, which aids in troubleshooting and enhancing user knowledge.

Possible disadvantages of Beats

  • Limited Processing Capabilities
    Beats is designed primarily for data shipment and lacks powerful processing capabilities, which may necessitate additional processing tools like Logstash.
  • Complexity with Scale
    Managing many Beats agents across a large infrastructure can become complex, requiring orchestrations and management strategies to avoid configuration drifts.
  • Memory Consumption
    While lightweight, some Beats can still consume a notable amount of memory, particularly when processing large datasets or complex configurations.
  • Learning Curve
    For users not familiar with the Elastic Stack ecosystem, there might be a learning curve in configuring and optimizing Beats for specific use cases.

Fping (open source) features and specs

  • Speed
    Fping is designed to send out multiple ICMP Echo Requests in parallel, allowing it to quickly scan large numbers of hosts compared to traditional ping commands.
  • Scripting Friendly
    Fping is suitable for use in shell scripts due to its output format, making it useful for automated network monitoring and management tasks.
  • IPv4 and IPv6 Support
    Fping supports both IPv4 and IPv6, providing flexibility for various network environments.
  • Customizable Options
    It offers a wide range of options for setting the number of pings, intervals, and timing, allowing users to tailor the tool to suit specific needs.
  • Resource Efficiency
    Fping consumes fewer system resources compared to some GUI-based network tools, making it ideal for running on servers and low-power devices.

Possible disadvantages of Fping (open source)

  • Command-Line Interface Only
    Fping does not have a graphical user interface, which may make it less accessible to users who are not familiar with command-line operations.
  • Advanced Configuration Complexity
    While it is highly configurable, the range of options and parameters can be overwhelming for new users who may not have a deep understanding of networking.
  • Limited To Echo Requests
    Fping is designed specifically for ICMP Echo Requests, limiting its usefulness for scenarios that require more in-depth network diagnostics.
  • Lack of Built-In Analysis
    Unlike some more comprehensive network monitoring tools, Fping does not include features for detailed analysis and visualization of network data.
  • Potential Security Restrictions
    Some networks may have security policies that restrict the use of ICMP packets, which could limit Fping's effectiveness or even prevent it from functioning.

Analysis of Beats

Overall verdict

  • Yes, Beats is generally considered good, especially for organizations already using Elasticsearch and the Elastic Stack. It is praised for its ease of integration, versatility, and the substantial support and community around the Elastic ecosystem. However, the specific effectiveness can depend on your use case and data architecture needs.

Why this product is good

  • Beats, developed by Elastic, is a set of lightweight data shippers that are often used for sending data to Elasticsearch. They are known for their efficiency and ability to handle a variety of data types including logs, metrics, and network packets. Beats are part of the Elastic Stack, which is widely used for real-time data analysis and monitoring.

Recommended for

  • Organizations that already use Elasticsarch as their core data processing tool
  • Teams looking for efficient and lightweight data shipping solutions
  • Developers needing a solution to handle diverse data formats such as logs and metrics
  • Companies investing in real-time monitoring and data analysis
  • Businesses that can benefit from the extensive documentation and community support provided by Elastic

Beats videos

Beats Solo Pro: Return to Excellence!

More videos:

  • Review - The Beats Solo Pro Are The Best Beats Yet
  • Review - Beats Studio 3 Wireless "Real Review"

Fping (open source) videos

No Fping (open source) videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

Add video

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Beats and Fping (open source))
Monitoring Tools
51 51%
49% 49
Security & Privacy
100 100%
0% 0
OS & Utilities
0 0%
100% 100
Log Management
51 51%
49% 49

User comments

Share your experience with using Beats and Fping (open source). For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Beats and Fping (open source), you can also consider the following products

Wazuh - Open Source Host and Endpoint Security

Ping Meter Gadget - Customizable, graphical, semi-transparent ping (latency) meter.

Riemann - Container Monitoring

Open Nettest - Open Nettest is a platform for collecting, processing and visualizing data related QoS and QoE.

Fortinet FortiAnalyzer - Fortinet FortiAnalyzer is a powerful product for Security Fabric Analytics and Automation.

PingInfoView - PingInfoView is a small utility that allows you to easily ping multiple host names and IP addresses, and watch the result in one table.