FlowViewer vs SoftPerfect Bandwidth Manager

FlowViewer is free software for analyzing NetFlow data exported by an organization’s network devices. Its interface works with Carnegie Mellon’s SiLK software and also supports the older flow-tools collector. The toolset combines FlowViewer for text reports, FlowGrapher for charts, and FlowMonitor for longer-term traffic monitoring. It supports NetFlow versions 5 and 9, including IPv6, and offers filtering by address, port, interface, autonomous system, TOS, TCP flags, protocol, and next hop. More than 30 reports are available, and reports and filters can be saved. FlowGrapher charts bits, flows, and packets per second over a selected period; FlowMonitor provides RRD graphs for filtered traffic, with views from 24 hours to 3 years. Dashboards can give groups such as Security and Operations separate live views. FlowViewer is listed for Linux and web use and can be installed on a dedicated Unix server or virtual appliance; the software requires a Unix server. The free plan is free. Paid options include hourly support at a price agreed with the maker, router configuration at $500, paid once, training at $500, paid once, and installation at $750, paid once.

SoftPerfect Bandwidth Manager monitors network traffic and applies bandwidth limits and quality-of-service rules. Administrators can target IP or MAC addresses, ports, protocols, and network interfaces, then set prioritized bidirectional rate and usage limits. Configuration can be centralized at one network location, and end users usually do not need client software. Quotas, scheduling, email notifications, reports, and a live usage monitor help track traffic. Enterprise adds deep packet inspection for detecting IM, P2P file sharing, gaming, and media streaming. Remote management uses a Windows GUI console connecting over TCP port 8701; the vendor says there is no web-based management interface. The product's stated purpose is Windows network management, and version 3.3.0 added Windows ARM64 support while setting Windows 10 as the minimum. The free Lite plan allows five rules or streams. Paid perpetual licences range from $49, paid once to $4,500, paid once and include one year of free updates. The vendor describes compatibility with Microsoft ISA Server and Internet Connection Sharing.