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Cacti

cacti.net

Free plan WebWindowsLinuxSelf-hosted
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Spec score 8.2 #7 of 33 in Bandwidth Monitoring Software

What it is

Cacti is a free, self-hosted network graphing and operational monitoring framework built around RRDtool. It collects data through SNMP object identifiers or scripts, which can retrieve database information or run other code. Availability checks cover SNMP, ICMP, TCP, and UDP. Discovery and automation can create graphs and data sources, while Remote Data Collectors distribute collection and cache data during network interruptions. Graph items support line, area, stacked, horizontal-rule, vertical-rule, print, and comment types. Device templates connect devices with graph templates and data queries, and plugins can extend collection to other protocols, with WMI listed as an example. Role-based management covers users, groups, and domains. Cacti supports SNMP versions 1, 2, and 3, with a documented limitation for advanced SNMPv3 settings such as SHA224+ or AES192+ when PHP SNMP is used. It is available for Linux/Unix and Windows. Installation requires MySQL, PHP, RRDtool, Net-SNMP, and a PHP-capable web server such as Apache or IIS.

Spec sheet

Purpose
Cacti is a network graphing and operational monitoring framework built around RRDtool.Read 7 Oct 2026 · cacti.net
Support
The Cacti site directs users seeking help to its support section, but the opened pages do not state a support service level.Read 7 Oct 2026 · cacti.net
Founded
2001Read 28 Sep 2026 · cacti.net
Access control
Cacti includes role-based user, group, and domain management features.Read 7 Oct 2026 · cacti.net
Data collection
Cacti collects data using SNMP OIDs or scripts, which can retrieve data from databases or run other code.Read 7 Oct 2026 · cacti.net
Device checks
Cacti supports SNMP, ICMP, TCP, and UDP availability checks.Read 7 Oct 2026 · cacti.net
Discovery
Cacti provides automation and discovery to control automatic graph and data source creation.Read 7 Oct 2026 · cacti.net
Distributed polling
Remote Data Collectors support distributed collection and offline caching during network interruptions.Read 7 Oct 2026 · cacti.net
Download availability
The download page lists Cacti source code for Linux/Unix and Windows.Read 7 Oct 2026 · cacti.net
Graphing
Graph items support line, area, stacked, horizontal-rule, vertical-rule, print, and comment types.Read 7 Oct 2026 · cacti.net
Installation requirements
Cacti requires MySQL, PHP, RRDtool, Net-SNMP, and a web server that supports PHP, such as Apache or IIS.Read 7 Oct 2026 · cacti.net
Plugins
Plugins can extend data collection to other protocols; the features page gives a WMI plugin as an example.Read 7 Oct 2026 · cacti.net
Security protocol support
Cacti supports SNMP versions 1, 2, and 3, with a documented limitation for advanced SNMPv3 settings such as SHA224+ or AES192+ when PHP SNMP is in use.Read 7 Oct 2026 · docs.cacti.net
Templates
Device templates can associate one or more graph templates and data queries with devices.Read 7 Oct 2026 · cacti.net

Plans and prices

Cacti Free Open-source network monitoring and graphing software; requires MySQL, PHP, RRDTool, Net-SNMP, and a PHP-capable web server Read 7 Oct 2026 · cacti.net

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Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Free open-source software
  • SNMP, ICMP, TCP, and UDP checks
  • Automated discovery and graph creation
  • Distributed collectors cache during interruptions
  • Role-based user, group, and domain management

Limits

  • Requires MySQL, PHP, RRDtool, and Net-SNMP
  • Self-hosted deployment requires a PHP-capable web server
  • Advanced SNMPv3 settings have a documented PHP limitation
  • No free trial is offered

Who it suits

Cacti suits administrators who can run self-hosted monitoring on Linux/Unix or Windows. It is useful for teams needing SNMP-based collection, graphing, discovery, and distributed polling.

Verdict

Cacti offers broad network collection and graphing without a license charge, but installation and operation remain self-hosted responsibilities. Review its listed dependencies and the PHP SNMPv3 limitation before deployment.

Where Specifiction places it

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