Paessler releases new ‘PRTG for Android’ app

Paessler AG has announced the release of a new app for its popular PRTG Network Monitor. ‘PRTG for Android’ will allow users of Android devices with Google’s operating system version 4.0 (and higher) and Kindle FIRE HD to keep an eye on their IT networks remotely.

IT administrators can use the app to view their network traffic, acknowledge alarms and pause monitoring for individual objects or entire groups. The app alerts users immediately to any malfunction or failure, through various notification options that are available. As with PRTG’s web interface, all sensor data from the network is displayed on the app hierarchically, in probes, groups and devices.

The app allows administrators to view real-time monitoring graphs and to change the ‘priority’ and ‘favourite’ statuses of sensors. It also allows users to pause or continue monitoring, acknowledge alarms, trigger sensor scans directly, start an auto-discovery and to retrieve historical data.

Widgets for easy access to network data
Users can also keep up to date by using widgets that display a general overview of important sensor information directly in a ‘speedometer’ view on their device’s home screen. The widgets notify users of any alarms without requiring the app to be switched on.

Avoids high data usage
Regardless of how large the device display is, the ‘PRTG for Android’ app automatically adjusts its interface so that the user can see as much information as possible at a glance. To avoid high amounts of mobile data usage, the sensor graphs are loaded on request only whilst the device is using a mobile connection to the internet. If the user is connected via Wi-Fi, the display is instantaneous.

Server requirements
To use the app, a PRTG Core Server with at least version 13.1 is required. The app connects to the server to clearly display the entire monitoring configuration on the mobile device. If an administrator manages a number of independent PRTG servers, he or she can set them all up in the app and easily switch between the servers. A background service, which is updated at regular intervals, alerts the user of unexpected measurements or failures across all connected servers. This information is displayed directly in the Android status bar and can set off a sound or vibration to alert the user.

A ‘toolbox’ function is available to those without a PRTG Core Server installation. This allows the network to be checked through the mobile device using Ping, Traceroute or DNS query. Web server responses (Raw HTTP) can also be initiated and checked using the mobile device. A ‘MAC database’ provides information on which MAC address circuit belongs to which manufacturer.

Desktop to mobile device via QR code
If a user is browsing in the PRTG Ajax Web Interface and wants to get the same view shown on their mobile device, they can scan a QR from the screen. This will immediately show the corresponding page on the PRTG app. Administrators could also populate their server racks with printed QR codes in order to access the monitoring data of a specific device from the server room, on their smartphone.