Sniffnet: a free, open source network monitoring app
Posted by GyulyVGC@reddit | linux | View on Reddit | 71 comments
Sniffnet (website | GitHub) is a powerful yet intuitive network analysis tool to enable everyone comfortably monitor their Internet traffic.
I’ve been working on Sniffnet as a side-project for almost 3 years, and its development is today supported by the European Union’s Next Generation Internet program.
The most recent major version of the app was published just a couple days ago and, among the other features, it finally makes Sniffnet available as a Docker image for Linux.
The latest release also introduces the ability to import data from Packet Capture files in addition to network interfaces, and it turned out Sniffnet is 2x faster than Wireshark at processing them.
More details in the latest blog post.
Puzzled_Intention649@reddit
This looks awesome! Will you be developing a CLI version of this as well? Other than that, I look forward to using this!
luizfx4@reddit
That's so amazing. Talented devs that worked on this project (like you) is what inspires me to be a better dev, too. Thanks for your effort!
GyulyVGC@reddit (OP)
Thanks for your words, they mean a lot to me
xxthatguyxx01@reddit
This looks really neat and will probably play around with this later on. I like tinkering with Linux. One of the reasons I'm happy I made the switch from Windows
GyulyVGC@reddit (OP)
Agree. Even if Sniffnet is cross-platform actually.
doeffgek@reddit
It looks pretty good, but I do have one question.
When running Ubiquity hardware (UDM-PRO in my case), what will Sniffnet add to my experience? In others words: What features does Sniffnet provide that UnifiOS doesn’t have.
GyulyVGC@reddit (OP)
I guess it depends on what you need to do… anyway I’m not familiar with UnifiOS so I’m not the best person to answer this one.
doeffgek@reddit
You added only a screenshot from the home screen, so can’t tell what the other screens provide.
In UniFiOS I can’t only see what connection take up the most bandwidth, but also which internal device is responsible for that traffic. I can see how every device is connected (wired or WiFi) and what speed the connection has and in case of WiFi I can also see how stable a connection is.
Basically it gives me the all the info I can think of what is happening in my network, and gives me the ability to change settings and permissions from a web interface or mobile app.
I understand that most of this simply isn’t what you designed the app for, but somewhere there will be something that Ubiquiti missed and you didn’t. It’s not that if I can’t name it that it’s not there. I also understand that most people don’t have UniFi of equavalent hardware with those options, and then I really think your app can really make the difference.
GyulyVGC@reddit (OP)
Oh, I assumed you already browsed the website.
I suggest giving a look at the gallery so that you can better draw some conclusion.
In any case, already from the screenshot I posted here you can notice that what appears under “network host” isn’t simply a network connection but includes details that are inferred starting from IP addresses that I’m not so used to see in other apps, so I wouldn’t be surprised if UnifiOS doesn’t have them.
doeffgek@reddit
I did a global read. You sure have a lot of options included and for that I think that you did a good addition if you don’t have any other similar software running. Referring to my UniFi software I don’t think your app doesn’t add much to reason to start using 2 apps.
But yet again you did a great job, and if I didn’t have UniFi I would have probably already installed it.
Kurgan_IT@reddit
I'm an everyday wireshark user, I can see how this may be useful for a statistical approach, while wireshark is aimed at a more in-deep approach.
Naraksama@reddit
I wait for the day until this gets rendered in a CLI.
Tropical_Amnesia@reddit
Not like we had no options. This seems to be about the first GUI of its kind or capability and for once actually closing some sort of gap. Sure, you can always wait on someone else to do the job, and wheel number 127 to finally hit the pining "masses". Only then to never use it. Fun fact: even ss has a permanent mode.
PLAYERUNKNOWNMiku01@reddit
Question: Does the rpm version will work on opensuse?
Kripthmaul@reddit
I just installed it on SLES 15 SP5 with the rpm. Worked like a charm.
GyulyVGC@reddit (OP)
Never tested on openSUSE… I know for sure that it works on Fedora, not sure about other RPM-based distros…
UNF0RM4TT3D@reddit
Do you know if it will work well in a container on Mikrotik?
iggywig@reddit
Yeah I was thinking this would be awesome too. Maybe it could work pointing to a remote X11 window somewhere else? Sounds like something to try out when I have some spare time.
grizzlor_@reddit
The author replied to another comment asking if it can be installed on a headless server and accessed via a web UI -- he said not yet, but he's planning on implementing this.
OddSpiteDevil@reddit
is this Wireshirk for dummies?
FattyDrake@reddit
It's a different use case than wireshark. A better overview detail of network usage. I like this even tho I use wireshark for debugging. Can definitely see using both. Most folks don't need something that low level.
zinozAreNazis@reddit
Or even a lower level: tcpdump
GyulyVGC@reddit (OP)
This. Sniffnet and Wireshark are intended for different kind of usages. And as you said, they’re not mutually exclusive, even if people often tend to talk about them being an alternative to the other.
MarzipanEven7336@reddit
More like Wireshart.
wyn10@reddit
Similar to the network tab of resource manager on Windows, I've been hoping snffnet adds latency on connections.
OddSpiteDevil@reddit
You can add an issue regarding it on the GitHub repo.
wyn10@reddit
There's already one up for it. 170 I think.
GyulyVGC@reddit (OP)
We don’t have an issue for it yet actually, feel free to open one so we can discuss this further
wyn10@reddit
Done, 845
GyulyVGC@reddit (OP)
Thanks, will check it out!
anugosh@reddit
Simpler, perhaps, doesn't mean it's for dummies.
And honestly, with how complex the current internet is, it's nice to have a tool that's simple to start using, even if it has overall less capabilities than others. You can't specialize in everything, but that shouldn't bar you from the field
OddSpiteDevil@reddit
Yeah, I agree. I've just tried out this tool.
WackyConundrum@reddit
This is bloody lovely!
Sage_of_7th_Path@reddit
Looks great! Is the colour scheme customisable? Yellow is too loud for my taste.
GyulyVGC@reddit (OP)
Yes, it is. More than 10 themes are available in app, and you can also define your own.
Sage_of_7th_Path@reddit
Awesome! catppuccin mocha time!
scrat-squirrel@reddit
Great job! Does it come with command line API / interface?
GyulyVGC@reddit (OP)
No, only GUI
GearFlame@reddit
I guess I will take a look at it. Trying to find some kind of alternative to Glasswire for Linux but can't find em.
garamgaramsamose@reddit
finally a unique design and not base shadcn.
NobodySure9375@reddit
Stellar!
NooB_HackeR_404@reddit
it saved my day so many times like i don't know what using what port so i just use this tool to find and kill it very helpful whoever made this kudos man keep up the good work
AalbatrossGuy@reddit
This looks sick!
Congratulations, I'll definitely use it
PENGUINSflyGOOD@reddit
impressive ui thanks
imtryingmybes@reddit
That looks sick! I knew Rust was powerful but I didn’t know you could make a full cross-platform app with a gui and all in one! Thats sick!
Udab@reddit
Looks very promising.
Sparky_Otter@reddit
Can't wait to see this on an Arch-based system, otherwise, I'm going to wait until it's available
GyulyVGC@reddit (OP)
It’s already available for Arch!
Sparky_Otter@reddit
Oh sweet thanks!
elatllat@reddit
It have sni sniffing via ebpf like Suricata?
GyulyVGC@reddit (OP)
It doesn’t use ebpf, Sniffnet uses libpcap under the hoods for now.
AtlanticPortal@reddit
Please, at least release an AppImage for anyone that's not included in your deb/rpm binary.
GyulyVGC@reddit (OP)
We have an issue tracking this, I’d appreciate any help in setting up a CI/CD for it.
R3DDY-on-R3DDYt@reddit
Bello l'iPhone del re del male
GyulyVGC@reddit (OP)
Phineas & Ferb for the win 😍
TuxRuffian@reddit
I didn't see a TUI on your roadmap. Have you guys considered this using something like Cursive?
GyulyVGC@reddit (OP)
It has been discussed, but in the end I decided I prefer to focus on the GUI only. Anyway, if I had to do it, I would definitely use Ratatui.
mauro_mussin@reddit
Si può usare con uno switch che fa mirroring?
GyulyVGC@reddit (OP)
Non ancora, ma qualcosa del genere è in programma: https://github.com/GyulyVGC/sniffnet/issues/303
geop0p3@reddit
Wow perfect timing! I'm starting a project that requires network analysis! Awesome 😎
the-johnnadina@reddit
Was this UI perhaps designed by a furry
Enthusedchameleon@reddit
Congrats! And it looks really good (and more "usable" for the layman [me, the layman is me] than wireshark)
GyulyVGC@reddit (OP)
There’s lots of laymen between us, I can guarantee!
Dapper-Inspector-675@reddit
That looks awesome!
That is the one missing thing in my homelab, I hope I can install this on my server and see the usage headless via webUI, is that possible OP?
GyulyVGC@reddit (OP)
Not yet, but it’s planned
furry_dog_man@reddit
This is definitely one I’ll keep my eye on.
Keely369@reddit
This looks great. Good work!
xte2@reddit
Nice and already nix-ifyed! :)
iHiep@reddit
wow, that looks awesome!
0riginal-Syn@reddit
Looks pretty sharp. Will have to check this out.
Black-Mack@reddit
The interface alone is enough to make me like it.