What it does
PRTG Network Monitor is Paessler's self-hosted infrastructure and network monitoring software for Windows servers. A sensor measures one aspect of a device or service; admins add sensors manually or use discovery to build a view of network health, alerts, and reports. Licensing is also sensor-based, which makes the monitored scope and sensor count part of planning.
Build a view around a device
Install PRTG Network Monitor on a Windows server and add the devices the team wants to observe. In the official manual, an administrator can select Sensors | Add Sensor or open a device's context menu and use Add Sensor; the resulting dialog guides sensor selection. For example, a network administrator might attach interface-traffic sensors to a switch and then use alerts to surface unusual utilization. This describes the documented workflow, not a live configuration.
Sensor selection is the important planning decision: each sensor measures a specific value, and a license counts sensors rather than only device names. The product offers an unlimited 30-day trial that then reverts to a freeware edition; commercial licenses are available as subscriptions. Because it is installed on-premises, the operator also manages the Windows host, network access, and permissions needed to query monitored devices.
Strengths
- One central server can present measurements and alerts across network devices and services.
- The manual documents both manual sensor addition and an assisted dialog for selecting a measurement.
- A freeware edition remains after the 30-day full-featured evaluation; commercial tiers count sensors.
Watch out for
- The on-premises edition runs on Windows servers, so the monitoring host and network access remain the operator's responsibility.
- Sensor-count licensing can require planning when adding detailed measurements or expanding monitored systems.
Best for
- IT teams monitoring network infrastructure and services from a centrally managed Windows server.
- Operators who want to select individual device measurements and alerts.
- Teams that can estimate sensor needs and manage on-prem monitoring infrastructure.
Sources
- PRTG Network Monitor (Oct 25, 2026)
- Add a Sensor | PRTG Manual (Oct 25, 2026)
- Available Licenses | PRTG Manual (Oct 25, 2026)