MRTG review
A focused, free choice for SNMP traffic graphs and threshold alerts.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
MRTG, or Multi Router Traffic Grapher, is free, open-source software for monitoring SNMP-enabled network devices and presenting interface traffic through web pages with PNG graphs. It is aimed at teams that operate their own network-monitoring infrastructure across Windows and Linux environments. The tool can also graph other SNMP variables and externally collected data, making it suitable for straightforward bandwidth visibility where network-device metrics are the main requirement.
Its strongest area is basic SNMP traffic monitoring with practical reporting and alerting. MRTG can generate configurations automatically with cfgmaker, identify interfaces by IP, description, Ethernet address, or name, and support SNMPv2c 64-bit counters. Threshold checking can trigger email notifications or external programs. Constant-size consolidated logfiles help keep data storage predictable, while RRDtool adds an alternative for logging and graphing. The published product description documents approximately two years of retained traffic history, alongside HTML generation for monitored targets.
MRTG is a focused option rather than a broad observability platform. Its listed ecosystem centers on RRDtool, and its documented scope does not extend to verified application monitoring, flow monitoring, or wider integration coverage. Teams that need network-device bandwidth graphs, threshold actions, and an open-source deployment can choose MRTG when a narrow tool matches their operating model. Teams seeking broader platform coverage, application visibility, or a larger integration ecosystem should consider an alternative designed around those requirements.
MRTG pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Free and open source under the GNU GPL
- Generates PNG traffic graphs and HTML pages
- Supports threshold actions, SNMPv2c counters, and RRDtool
- Where it doesn't
- Narrower than modern monitoring platforms
- No verified application or flow monitoring coverage
- RRDtool is the only listed integration
MRTG fact sheet, pricing and score →
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