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vnStat VS darkstat

Compare vnStat VS darkstat and see what are their differences

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vnStat logo vnStat

vnStat is a console-based network traffic monitor for Linux and BSD that keeps a log of network...

darkstat logo darkstat

darkstat is a packet sniffer which runs as a background process, captures network traffic...
  • vnStat Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-04-16
  • darkstat Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-01-28

vnStat features and specs

  • Lightweight
    vnStat is a lightweight tool that doesn't consume much system resources, making it ideal for systems with limited performance capabilities.
  • Historical Data Collection
    It tracks network traffic and keeps a record of data transfers for long-term analysis without needing to be running continuously.
  • Simple Installation
    vnStat is easy to install and configure on most major Linux distributions, requiring minimal setup effort.
  • Console-Based
    The tool operates from the command line, which ensures low overhead and easy integration into scripts and automation tasks.
  • No Root Privileges Required
    vnStat can be used without requiring root permissions once installed, which can enhance security practices on shared systems.

Possible disadvantages of vnStat

  • Limited Real-Time Monitoring
    vnStat primarily focuses on historical data and provides limited real-time network monitoring capabilities compared to other tools.
  • Basic Data Visualization
    The tool offers text-based statistics, which may not be as visually appealing or detailed as graphical network monitoring solutions.
  • Linux-Centric
    vnStat is primarily designed for Linux systems, which limits its use on other operating systems like Windows and macOS.
  • Single Interface Monitoring
    By default, vnStat monitors a single network interface at a time, necessitating additional configuration to handle more interfaces.

darkstat features and specs

  • Lightweight
    Darkstat is a lightweight network traffic analyzer, which means it requires minimal system resources.
  • Easy to Install
    The installation process is straightforward, making it accessible for users who are not experts in network administration.
  • Web Interface
    Provides a simple web interface that makes it easy to monitor network traffic without needing complex configurations.
  • Real-time Traffic Capture
    Enables users to capture network traffic in real-time, which is crucial for monitoring live data and taking immediate actions.
  • Open Source
    Being open source allows users to modify and improve the software as needed, fostering a community-driven development approach.

Possible disadvantages of darkstat

  • Limited Advanced Features
    Darkstat lacks advanced features compared to more comprehensive tools, which may not meet the needs of advanced users.
  • Basic Reporting
    The reporting capabilities are quite basic, limiting its usefulness for detailed analysis and long-term data retention.
  • Lack of Active Development
    Limited updates and community support can lead to potential security vulnerabilities and outdated methods.
  • Not Scalable
    Darkstat may not perform well under high network loads and is not ideal for large-scale network environments.
  • Minimal Support for New Protocols
    It may not fully support newer network protocols or technologies, limiting its effectiveness in modern network setups.

vnStat videos

+ Add

HowTo: Monitor and Log Network Traffic on Linux / Unix Using vnStat

More videos:

  • Tutorial - How to Setup vnStat Network Traffic Monitor on Linux
  • Tutorial - How To Install And Use VNSTAT On A Raspberry Pi

darkstat videos

+ Add

スケボー Darkstat デッキ 開封動画 & SET UP open deck review

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to vnStat and darkstat)

vnStat

darkstat

Monitoring Tools
50 50%
Monitoring Tools
50% 50
Performance Monitoring
50 50%
Performance Monitoring
50% 50
DevOps Tools
51 51%
DevOps Tools
49% 49
Log Management
49 49%
Log Management
51% 51

User comments

Share your experience with using vnStat and darkstat. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Social recommendations and mentions

vnStat might be a bit more popular than darkstat. We know about 4 links to it since March 2021 and only 3 links to darkstat. 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.

vnStat mentions (4)

  • vnstatd refuses to start | SG-3100 w/23.01
    For more information about vnStat use "man vnstat" or visit: Http://humdi.net/vnstat/. Source: about 2 years ago
  • How to easily gather IPv6 VS IPv4 usage on a web server?
    Something similar to vnstat (which monitor the bandwidth usage): https://humdi.net/vnstat/. This tool doesn't necessarily take into account only the ports 80 and 443, it can be generalized to all the traffic flow, but that would be a great if it does. Source: about 2 years ago
  • How to show/record total traffic consumption per interface/vlan?
    Take a look at https://humdi.net/vnstat/ - it should work on *BSD and I think there's a package for pfSense (and by extension should be there for OPNSense as well). Otherwise it's not too hard to setup to run at start up as well. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Bandwidth monitoring?
    If you don't want to run a stack can try something simple and lightweight like vnstat (https://humdi.net/vnstat/). Source: almost 4 years ago

darkstat mentions (3)

  • Any open source equivalent of Fing/Fingbox?
    I have a Ubiquiti Ethenret and WiFi network and their software will give me the discovery capabilities, and my custom OpenBSD router gives me the traffic inspection features (using Darkstat). Source: about 3 years ago
  • Data Usage
    A friend of mine is a tech wizard, and he hooked me up with a home built router that uses pfSense, which comes with a program that does what you're asking for - darkstat. Source: about 4 years ago
  • Anyone monitoring outgoing traffic?
    I do have darkstat monitoring traffic on my egress interface. I also block access to UDP port 53 from untrusted hosts (I will change it to silently redirect to my official unbound DNS servers later). Source: about 4 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing vnStat and darkstat, you can also consider the following products

ntop - ntopng High-Speed Web-based Traffic Analysis and Flow Collection ntopng is the next generation version of the original ntop, a network traffic probe that monitors network usage. ntopng is based on …

nload - Monitor network traffic and bandwidth usage in real time

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

BandwidthD - BandwidthD tracks usage of TCP/IP network subnets and builds html files with graphs to display...

Zabbix - Track, record, alert and visualize performance and availability of IT resources

SolarWinds NPM - Advanced network monitoring for on-premises, hybrid, and cloud. Download a FREE 30-day trial of SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor (NPM) today!

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