Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

tcpdump VS Nethogs

Compare tcpdump VS Nethogs and see what are their differences

tcpdump logo tcpdump

tcpdump is a common packet analyzer that runs under the command line.

Nethogs logo Nethogs

NetHogs is a small 'net top' tool.
  • tcpdump Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-04-27
  • Nethogs Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-26

tcpdump features and specs

  • Powerful packet capturing
    tcpdump offers comprehensive capabilities for capturing network packets, providing detailed insights into network traffic, which makes it a powerful tool for network diagnostics and analysis.
  • Wide compatibility
    Being a widely used tool, tcpdump is compatible with numerous operating systems, including Linux, Unix, and macOS, ensuring accessibility across different platforms.
  • Filter flexibility
    tcpdump supports a wide range of filtering options that allow users to capture specific types of traffic, ensuring efficient and targeted packet capture.
  • Command-line interface
    tcpdump is a command-line tool, which provides advanced users the ability to script and automate tasks, making it highly efficient for those familiar with command-line operations.
  • Free and open-source
    tcpdump is open-source software, which means it is freely available for use and can be modified and distributed by anyone, fostering a community of users and contributors.

Possible disadvantages of tcpdump

  • Steep learning curve
    For users unfamiliar with command-line interfaces and packet-level networking, tcpdump can be difficult to learn due to its complex commands and options.
  • Minimal graphical interface
    tcpdump lacks a graphical user interface (GUI), which can make it less accessible for users who prefer visual tools over text-based interfaces.
  • Limited analysis capability
    While tcpdump is excellent for capturing packets, it offers limited built-in analysis features, requiring additional tools for comprehensive analysis of captured data.
  • High resource usage
    Running tcpdump with extensive capture options or on high-traffic networks can result in significant CPU and memory usage, potentially impacting system performance.
  • Security risks
    tcpdump requires root or elevated privileges to capture packets, which could pose security risks if not managed correctly, especially on sensitive systems.

Nethogs features and specs

  • Real-Time Monitoring
    Nethogs allows users to monitor network bandwidth usage in real time, distinguishing traffic usage by process, which is useful for managing and troubleshooting network performance issues.
  • Process-Based Traffic Tracking
    Unlike some network monitoring tools that only provide overall traffic data, Nethogs separates traffic by process, helping users identify which applications or processes are consuming bandwidth.
  • Lightweight and Simple
    Nethogs is a lightweight utility that is easy to install and use, making it accessible for users who need straightforward network monitoring without large overhead.
  • Open Source
    As an open-source tool, Nethogs allows users to audit, modify, or enhance the codebase to better fit their needs or to contribute to the community.

Possible disadvantages of Nethogs

  • Limited Feature Set
    Nethogs focuses specifically on process-based network traffic monitoring and does not include advanced features like historical data logging or the management of alerts.
  • Linux-Only
    Nethogs is only available for Linux systems, limiting its use for users who operate on other operating systems like Windows or macOS.
  • Command-Line Interface
    While powerful, the command-line interface might be intimidating or less user-friendly for individuals who prefer graphical user interfaces for system monitoring.
  • Real-Time Only
    As Nethogs provides only real-time data, it lacks the capability to produce historical data reports, which could be a drawback for users needing long-term data analysis.

tcpdump videos

Tcpdump - Protocol Review 5 (TCP)

More videos:

  • Review - Tcpdump - Protocol Review 3 (UDP)
  • Review - Tcpdump - Protocol Review 4 (DNS) - Draft

Nethogs videos

Nethogs Linux Shell Network Traffic Monitoring

More videos:

  • Review - Nethogs - Bandwidth Monitor - Linux TUI
  • Review - Remote linux server admin tools: byobu, htop, nethogs, nload, iptraf

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to tcpdump and Nethogs)
Monitoring Tools
74 74%
26% 26
Log Management
76 76%
24% 24
Productivity
100 100%
0% 0
Performance Monitoring
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

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

tcpdump Reviews

6 Best Wireshark Alternatives for Windows and macOS
The quickness that you can have with tcpdump over Wireshark is awesome. It is one of those tools that many network administrators prefer whenever they need to take a look at the actual network packets that are being transmitted. The Tcpdump is not as feature rich as Wireshark but the output of its packet dump can be used as input by other programs. Moreover, It can be used...
Source: techwiser.com

Nethogs Reviews

We have no reviews of Nethogs yet.
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Nethogs seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 5 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.

tcpdump mentions (0)

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

Nethogs mentions (5)

What are some alternatives?

When comparing tcpdump and Nethogs, you can also consider the following products

Wireshark - Wireshark is a network protocol analyzer for Unix and Windows. It lets you capture and interactively browse the traffic running on a computer network.

SmartSniff - SmartSniff is a packet sniffer that capture TCP/IP packets and display them as sequence of conversations between clients and servers.

nload - Monitor network traffic and bandwidth usage in real time

Ettercap - Ettercap is a suite for man in the middle attacks on LAN.

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

netcat - Netcat is a featured networking utility which reads and writes data across network connections...