Comments on: NetWorx – free portable network traffic monitor

By: Rarst

Rarst — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 15:34:40 +0000

@Bitstar

Some people (me included) hate to mess with install and uninstall. :) From portable I get to run tool from flashdrive and instantly see how is traffic consumed. I get tool that runs on any PC with any degree of user rights.

networkx had to be installed

There are two downloads provided by developer, one for installer lovers and other simply archive. :)

By: Bitstar

Bitstar — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 20:36:12 +0000

Making a software portable just so you don’t have to press uninstall when you are done with it is just an excuse to get away with inferior software that is much easier to make. A windows service can be removed just as easily as it was created. The uninstaller should gracefully handle that.

What exactly do you gain with a portable traffic monitoring tool other then easy uninstalling when your isp removes your traffic limit? I don’t know…but I know what you don’t get :P

Besides…networkx had to be installed so there goes the portability excuse :)

By: Rarst

Rarst — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 16:24:35 +0000

@Bitstar

It’s not unfair at all if it’s traffic monitoring tool

It is consumer grade traffic monitoring tool that is targeted at those who have traffic limit and is portable. Personally I consider crap when software claims portable but installs service in the system.

Bandwidth is not always about servers, sometimes it is about notebook on 3g connection or whatever. :)

By: Bitstar

Bitstar — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 16:19:57 +0000

It’s not unfair at all if it’s traffic monitoring tool. Is it too much to expect of such an application (that also claims to work on windows 2003 server too) to work without me being logged on 24 hours a day?

Besides, from a developer’s point of view (i’m a developer) implementing a windows service is trivial. If you do something, do it right from the beginning.

Finally I did find an application that works ok as a service (Prtg Traffic Grapher 6.0). The only thing i dislike about it is the reporting (can’t select a period on the calendar). NetWorx’s interface is a lot more intuitive.

By: Rarst

Rarst — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 15:09:43 +0000

@BitstarFirst absolutely most of software works in session, you are being unfair calling crap on that. :)NetLimiter installs as service but I hadn't tested it in server environment. Drop a comment if it fits your needs and if not I am sure we'll find something. :)

By: Bitstar

Bitstar — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 13:02:54 +0000

I have when a software sais it works on windows 2003 server and when I install it I find out that it works, but you need to stay logged in with an active session. Who the hell would stay logged on a server just to keep it running. It’s crap software. Didn’t they hear of windows services?

Right now I’m still looking for a freeware app to do this but work in a server environment, without asking me to stay logged in :) Pls let me know if you know such an app.

By: Rarst

Rarst — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 23:52:32 +0000

@Jonny

No problem. :)

Comodo is good at many things but connection monitor is hardly one of them. TCPView and CurrPorts so own all alternatives for that.

By: Jonny

Jonny — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 23:43:47 +0000

Thanks for the mention Rarst, I see all connections with my firewall (comodo) more or less so use this to monitor speed and interwebs usage only. Cool app!

By: Rarst

Rarst — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 20:00:26 +0000

@Rick

Who knows. :) I think NetLimiter is pretty unique among network monitors in slicing traffic per app. And it might be too hard to implement while keeping app portable.

By: Rick

Rick — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 19:38:59 +0000

@Rarst,

Nice comparison review between Networx and Netlimiter… Will definitely be looking at Netlimiter; however, want to keep monitoring the development of Networx. I have noticed they are frequently enhancing it to make it better. Maybe they will take a look at what your assessment is…