iftop VS NetBox

Compare iftop VS NetBox and see what are their differences

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iftop

iftop does for network usage what top(1) does for CPU usage.

NetBox

NetBox is an open source web application designed to help manage and document computer networks. NetBox was developed specifically to address the needs of network and infrastructure engineers.

Landing page //
2019-08-25

Landing page //
2023-09-15

It encompasses the following aspects of network management:

IP address management (IPAM) - IP networks and addresses, VRFs, and VLANs Equipment racks - Organized by group and site Devices - Types of devices and where they are installed Connections - Network, console, and power connections among devices Virtualization - Virtual machines and clusters Data circuits - Long-haul communications circuits and providers Secrets - Encrypted storage of sensitive credentials

iftop

Website: pdw.ex-parrot.com

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NetBox

Website: netbox.readthedocs.io

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iftop features and specs

Real-time Monitoring
iftop provides real-time bandwidth monitoring, enabling users to quickly identify network usage and any potential issues.
User-Friendly Interface
The tool features a simple, text-based user interface that is easy to navigate, making it accessible for users with varying levels of experience.
Detailed Traffic Insight
iftop offers detailed information about network traffic, including source and destination IP addresses, service ports, and data flow rates.
Lightweight
Being a command-line tool, iftop is lightweight in nature and does not consume significant system resources.
Open Source
iftop is open source, allowing users to access, modify, and distribute the software freely, which can lead to community-driven improvements.

Possible disadvantages of iftop

Lacks Historical Data
iftop does not have the capability to store historical data, making it unsuitable for long-term network monitoring and analysis.
Limited Features
Compared to other network monitoring tools, iftop has a limited feature set and may not meet the requirements of advanced network analysis needs.
Requires Root Permissions
The tool requires root or elevated permissions to run, which might be a security concern in certain environments.
Text-based Output
As a text-based tool, iftop may not provide the most visually appealing outputs, which can be a drawback for users who prefer graphical interfaces.
Not Cross-Platform
iftop is primarily designed for Unix-like systems and may not be available or easily operable on non-Unix platforms like Windows.

NetBox features and specs

Open Source
NetBox is open-source software, which means you can use and modify it freely without having to pay for a license. This can significantly reduce costs and allows for customization according to specific needs.
Comprehensive IPAM and DCIM
NetBox includes both IP Address Management (IPAM) and Data Center Infrastructure Management (DCIM) functionalities, offering a single platform to manage diverse aspects of network infrastructure.
Extensible via API
NetBox provides a robust API that allows integration with other tools and systems, enabling automation and enhanced functionality through scripting and third-party applications.
User-Friendly Interface
The web-based user interface is intuitive and easy to use, even for those who may not have extensive experience with network management tools.
Active Community and Support
NetBox has an active community of users and contributors, which helps in quickly addressing issues, sharing knowledge, and contributing to the continuous improvement of the software.

Possible disadvantages of NetBox

Initial Setup Complexity
The initial installation and configuration of NetBox can be complex and time-consuming, potentially requiring a good understanding of Python, PostgreSQL, and other dependencies.
Resource Intensive
As a web-based application, NetBox can be resource-intensive, requiring a capable server environment to run efficiently, which might not be suitable for very small-scale deployments.
Steeper Learning Curve
Despite its intuitive interface, the broad set of features and functionalities might overwhelm new users, leading to a steeper learning curve.
Limited Built-in Reporting
NetBox has limited built-in reporting capabilities, which might necessitate additional tools or custom reports to meet specific reporting needs.
No Built-in Alerting
NetBox does not have built-in alerting mechanisms for tracking changes or unusual activities, so additional monitoring and alerting systems may be required.

Analysis of NetBox

Overall verdict

Yes, NetBox is considered a good tool for managing complex networks and data centers. Its strong community support and continuous development contribute to its robustness and reliability in production environments.

Why this product is good

NetBox is a popular open-source tool for network automation and management, favored for its comprehensive features such as IP address management (IPAM), data center infrastructure management (DCIM), and its extensibility through plugins and a REST API. It provides a user-friendly web interface and is highly customizable, making it suitable for various network configurations and workflows.

Recommended for

NetBox is recommended for network engineers, system administrators, data center managers, and IT professionals who need an effective solution for managing IP addresses, network devices, and cabling infrastructure in medium to large-scale operations. It is particularly advantageous for those looking for an open-source option with a strong community backing.

iftop videos

+ Add

How to monitor network bandwidth using Iftop

NetBox videos

+ Add

Accessing NAPALM via the NetBox API

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to iftop and NetBox)

iftop

NetBox

Monitoring Tools

22 22%

Monitoring Tools

78% 78

Performance Monitoring

100 100%

Performance Monitoring

0% 0

Log Management

0 0%

Log Management

100% 100

Command Line Tools

100 100%

Command Line Tools

0% 0

User comments

Share your experience with using iftop and NetBox. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare iftop and NetBox

iftop Reviews

We have no reviews of iftop yet.
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NetBox Reviews

11 NetBox Alternatives

NetBox is a resource modeling application that is specially designed to automate networks and empower network engineering as well. It manages all the needs of networks and works under the license of Apache 2.

Source: www.justalternativeto.com

The 10 Best IP Address Management Tools for Linux

NetBox is certainly one of the best open-source IPAM solutions reviewed by our editors. It comes with a simple but elegant user interface that packs a serious punch in terms of functionalities. NetBox was initially developed by the network engineering team at DigitalOCean and has since evolved into a full-fledged IP management application. It is very popular among...

Source: www.ubuntupit.com

12 Open Source/Commercial Software for Data Center Infrastructure Management

NetBox is an open-source IP address management and data center infrastructure management platform, which was created by the network team at DigitalOcean to store the information about your networks, virtual machines, inventories, and many more.

Source: www.tecmint.com

Best IP Address Management Tools for Linux

NetBox is an open-source web based IP address management and data center infrastructure management application. It was developed more particulary to address the requirements of network and infrastructure engineers.

Source: www.tecmint.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, NetBox seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 21 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

iftop mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of iftop yet. Tracking of iftop recommendations started around Mar 2021.

NetBox mentions (21)

Share your greatest free tools
Netbox. https://netbox.readthedocs.io/en/stable/ Your “Source of Truth” for your network. NetBox is an infrastructure resource modeling (IRM) application designed to empower network automation. Initially conceived by the network engineering team at DigitalOcean, NetBox was developed specifically to address the needs of network and infrastructure engineers. NetBox is made available as open source under the Apache... Source: about 3 years ago
What do you use to track disks and other hardware?
Currently we are using [SnipeIT](https://snipeitapp.com/) to track our disks, hardware and machines, and [Netbox](https://netbox.readthedocs.io/en/stable/) to track physical layout and locations. Source: about 3 years ago
What does a longer career related to computing infrastructure look like?
You might find it educational/interesting to have a look at Netbox. It's a fairly well respected piece of software that manages network hardware and configuration. Source: about 3 years ago
How does proper documentation look like?
You could take a look at netbox . It’s a little hard to set up at first but worth it in the end IMO. Source: over 3 years ago
Web Application That Shows Switch Ports Mapping
However I'd suggest that Netbox is the more modern and functional solution to this problem. Source: over 3 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing iftop and NetBox, you can also consider the following products

psutil - psutil is a module providing an interface for retrieving information on all running processes and...

phpIPAM - phpipam is an open-source web IP address management application (IPAM).

nmon - This systems administrator, tuner, benchmark tool gives you a huge amount of important performance...

RackTables - Racktables is a nifty and robust solution for datacenter and server room asset management.

gtop - System monitoring dashboard for terminal

DCImanager - DCImanager is a platform for managing physical equipment. Connect any physical equipment to a single platform. Use the platform to manage your servers, switches, PDU as well as physical and virtual networks.