vnStat is a
network utility for the
Linux
Linux ( or ) is a family of open-source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991, by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged as a Linux distribution, w ...
operating system
An operating system (OS) is system software that manages computer hardware, software resources, and provides common services for computer programs.
Time-sharing operating systems schedule tasks for efficient use of the system and may also i ...
. It uses a
command line interface. vnStat command is a console-based network traffic monitor. It keeps a log of hourly, daily and monthly network traffic for the selected
interface(s) but is not a
packet sniffer
A packet analyzer, also known as packet sniffer, protocol analyzer, or network analyzer, is a computer program or computer hardware such as a packet capture appliance, that can intercept and log traffic that passes over a computer network or ...
. The traffic information is analyzed from the
proc filesystem. That way vnStat can be used even without root permissions.
History
vnStat is a console-based network traffic monitor that uses the network interface statistics provided by the kernel as information source. This means that vnStat won't actually be sniffing any traffic and also ensures light use of system resources. vnStat had an Initial public release in 23-Sep-2002 (version 1.0) by Teemu Toivola.
On 8 March 2004 its webpage moved to https://humdi.net/vnstat/ and a
man page
A man page (short for manual page) is a form of software documentation usually found on a Unix or Unix-like operating system. Topics covered include computer programs (including library and system calls), formal standards and conventions, and e ...
was included.
On 4 November 2006 was included in
Debian for Testing Watch and on 17 November 2006 was removed and next day was accepted 1.4-4 version. On 20 February 2010 was accepted 1.10-0.1 version in
Debian. Nowadays
Debian keeps a full history about vnstat by using a
Rich Site Summary.
On 26 April 2012 was included in
Ubuntu 12.04 Precise Pangolin
On 16 February 2017 a 1.17 version was released.
Control keys
vnStat is a
command line
A command-line interpreter or command-line processor uses a command-line interface (CLI) to receive commands from a user in the form of lines of text. This provides a means of setting parameters for the environment, invoking executables and pro ...
program and uses sames
control key
In computing, a Control key is a modifier key which, when pressed in conjunction with another key, performs a special operation (for example, ); similar to the Shift key, the Control key rarely performs any function when pressed by itself. ...
s, for example, stops live monitoring.
See also
*
Free network management software
Free may refer to:
Concept
* Freedom, having the ability to do something, without having to obey anyone/anything
* Freethought, a position that beliefs should be formed only on the basis of logic, reason, and empiricism
* Emancipate, to proc ...
References
External links
* {{official website, https://humdi.net/vnstat/
* Official repository: https://github.com/vergoh/vnstat
Linux network-related software
Free software programmed in C
Console applications