This page seeded by a discussion on 501techclub-dc
Ways to measure bandwidth utilization.
Web interface on managed switch. Some switches have a web-based monitoring utility built-in.
Packet sniffing software. This must be run on a computer that is attached to a port on the network that receives all network traffic. This port could be provided by a hub inserted between the switch and the WAN connection, or it could be a monitoring port on the switch itself.
Network monitoring software packages:
- IPTraf traffic monitor for GNU/Linux, BSD, etc.
- Microsoft's Network Monitor
- Ethereal - cross-platform network packet sniffer.
- NTOP - Network traffic probe
SNMP monitoring. If network equipment handling the traffic you wish to monitor speaks SNMP, then
- RRDTool
- MRTG
- Cacti