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.
User-friendly Interface Zenmap provides a graphical interface that makes it easier for users to conduct network scans without needing to memorize command-line options.
Visualization Tools It includes tools for visualizing scan results, such as network topology diagrams, which can help in understanding network structure and vulnerabilities.
Profile Management Supports saving scan configurations as profiles, enabling quick re-runs of common scans with predefined settings.
Cross-Platform Compatibility Zenmap is available for multiple operating systems including Windows, Linux, and macOS, making it versatile for different environments.
Integration with Nmap Leverages the powerful capabilities of Nmap, a well-known network scanning tool, providing advanced scanning options and performance.
Possible disadvantages
Performance Overhead The graphical interface can add additional performance overhead compared to the command-line version of Nmap, which may be noticeable during large scans.
Learning Curve Despite its graphical interface, Zenmap still requires a certain level of understanding about network scanning concepts and Nmap parameters to effectively use it.
Limited Customization While it supports many Nmap features, some advanced customization options available in the command-line version may be less accessible or harder to implement in Zenmap.
Security Risks Running a graphical network scanning tool can attract unwanted attention on shared or monitored systems as it might appear in process lists or leave trace logs, potentially indicating a security tool is being used.
Complexity in Large Data Sets When dealing with very large data sets or complex networks, the visual output can become cluttered or difficult to interpret efficiently.
Analysis
An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.
gping (CLI)Zenmap
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, Zenmap is a good tool.
Why this product is good
Zenmap is the official graphical user interface (GUI) for the Nmap Security Scanner, which is highly regarded for its ability to discover hosts and services on a computer network. Zenmap simplifies Nmap's complex functionality, making it more accessible to users who may not be as comfortable with command-line operations. It provides features such as network inventory, managing service upgrade schedules, and monitoring host or service uptime. Additionally, Zenmap is open-source and supports multiple operating systems, making it flexible and widely available.
Recommended for
Network administrators who need to map out or monitor their networks.
Security professionals performing security audits or vulnerability assessments.
IT personnel responsible for managing enterprise networks.
Enthusiasts interested in learning more about network security and scanning techniques.
The aim of the Zenmap app is to learning the Nmap tool easy for newbies to use and at the same time giving the best-advanced features to Nmap professionals.
Zenmap is not a new port scanner, but the official NMAP Front End interface (GUI). For those who are not familiar with command line terminals, Nmap creators launched this GUI release that will allow you to scan remote...
Social recommendations and mentions
Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.
It is a command line tool that also has an official GUI called Zenmap.
- Source: dev.to
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over 1 year ago
Upgrading my opnsense setup. Today I am trying to give names to all my devices checking what is connected to my network, need help.
Another way would be to use nmap from a Linux machine or virtual machine using: $ sudo nmap 192.168.0.1/24 where the subnet address is replaced with yours. They have a graphic interface, that I haven't used, but you might want to test...
Source:
over 3 years ago
What is this eye icon on the taskbar? Never seen it before.
I agree with this but the eye is not exactly the same.
https://nmap.org/zenmap/.
Source:
almost 4 years ago
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