Visual real-time graphing gping provides a real-time, terminal-based graph of ping latency over time, making it easy to visually spot trends, spikes, and packet loss at a glance — something the standard ping command cannot do.
Multi-host comparison You can ping multiple hosts simultaneously and see their latency graphs side by side in the same terminal window, which is extremely useful for comparing network paths or diagnosing routing issues.
Cross-platform support gping is available on Linux, macOS, and Windows, and can be installed via popular package managers like Homebrew, Chocolatey, Scoop, and various Linux package managers, making it accessible on virtually any platform.
Simple and intuitive CLI The tool is very easy to use with minimal configuration required. Just run 'gping <host>' and you immediately get a useful visual output. The command-line flags are straightforward and well-documented.
Supports arbitrary command graphing Beyond just pinging hosts, gping can graph the execution time of arbitrary commands using the --cmd flag, making it a versatile tool for monitoring the performance of any repeatable command over time.
Possible disadvantages
Requires installation of additional binary Unlike the standard ping command which is pre-installed on virtually every operating system, gping must be separately downloaded and installed, which may not be feasible in locked-down or minimal server environments.
Limited data export and logging gping is primarily a visual tool and lacks robust options for exporting ping data to files or structured formats (like CSV or JSON) for later analysis, making it less suitable for long-term monitoring or automated reporting.
Terminal size dependency The quality and usefulness of the graph depends heavily on terminal window size. In small terminal windows, the graph can become compressed and hard to read, losing much of the visual advantage over standard ping.
No alerting or threshold features gping does not support configuring alerts or notifications when latency exceeds a certain threshold or packet loss occurs, limiting its usefulness as a proactive monitoring tool compared to dedicated network monitoring solutions.
Resource overhead compared to standard ping As a graphical TUI application, gping consumes more CPU and memory than the standard ping utility. While generally negligible on modern systems, this can matter on resource-constrained embedded devices or when running many instances.
Detailed Latency Measurement SmokePing offers detailed graphics for latency and packet loss, allowing for in-depth analysis of network performance over time.
Free and Open Source Being an open-source tool, SmokePing is freely available to anyone and can be adapted and modified as needed.
Wide Range of Probes Supports a wide range of network probes, including ICMP, TCP, and DNS, enabling comprehensive network monitoring.
Customization Capability Highly customizable through configuration files, allowing users to tailor the tool to their specific monitoring needs.
Alerting System Offers a robust alerting system that can notify administrators via email or other methods when network thresholds are breached.
Possible disadvantages
Steep Learning Curve The setup and configuration can be complex, requiring a solid understanding of both the tool and the underlying network technologies.
Limited User Interface The web interface is functional but could be considered dated and not as user-friendly compared to some modern network monitoring tools.
Resource Intensive Can be resource-intensive, particularly when monitoring a large number of targets, which may necessitate more robust hardware.
Lacks Integrated Reporting Does not offer advanced built-in reporting features, requiring users to manually extract data or use additional tools for detailed reports.
Community Support While it has a supportive user community, it may not have the same level of comprehensive support and documentation as some commercial solutions.
Analysis
An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.
gping (CLI)SmokePing
Overall verdict
gping is an excellent, lightweight open-source CLI tool that modernizes the classic ping command by adding a real-time graphical visualization of latency directly in your terminal, making it a favorite among developers and sysadmins.
Why this product is good
Displays ping latency as a live, scrolling graph right in the terminal for easy visual analysis
Supports pinging multiple hosts simultaneously and comparing their latency side by side
Cross-platform support for Linux, macOS, and Windows
Written in Rust, making it fast, efficient, and reliable
Free and open-source with an active community and simple installation via common package managers
Can execute commands and graph their execution time, not just network pings
Recommended for
Network engineers and system administrators troubleshooting connectivity or latency issues
Developers who want a quick visual sense of network performance
Users who need to compare latency across multiple hosts at once
Anyone comfortable working in the command line who wants a more informative alternative to traditional ping
Overall verdict
Yes, SmokePing is a well-regarded tool for network monitoring, especially for those who need to track latency and network stability over time. Its capabilities in visualizing and analyzing network performance make it a valuable asset for IT professionals and network administrators.
Why this product is good
SmokePing is a highly effective latency monitoring tool that provides valuable insights into network performance. It utilizes a simple ping system to measure and visualize latency, packet loss, and network stability over time. The tool's graphing capabilities are particularly praised for their clarity and detail. Additionally, it supports integration with a wide range of platforms and offers customization options to suit different network monitoring needs.
Recommended for
Network administrators, IT professionals, businesses looking to monitor network latency and performance, and technical users who need detailed insights into network stability.
Smokeping used to be one of my favourity tools when I was working as a SysAdmin long time ago. It's offers such a clever way of presenting the data, that it is super easy to identify any issues. I still wonder why...
Social recommendations and mentions
Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.
This is cool. I did something similar at my work using smokeping and the #@vtext.com to send the texts. https://oss.oetiker.ch/smokeping/.
- Source: Hacker News
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over 1 year ago
I'd recommend setting up SmokePing or Vaping to get a better idea of latency and connectivity.
Source:
over 3 years ago
N-Central, Connectivity Service and 15 minute minimums, oh my!
Let me introduce you to a rather old, but still highly useful, tool for free. Takes a little leg work to get going, but pays off in style. https://oss.oetiker.ch/smokeping/.
Source:
over 3 years ago
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