Why I decided to create a custom network monitor for my servers and services

If you’re into tech or running a homelab, you probably know how helpful a reliable network monitor can be. I’ve been there, procrastinating for ages trying to find one that really fits my needs without all the bloat. So I finally took the plunge and started building my own network monitor from scratch—something straightforward, easy to run on my local network, and exactly tailored to what I wanted.

Why Build a Network Monitor?

Sure, there are plenty of options out there like Nagios, Zabbix, and PRTG. But they can feel overwhelming or just don’t hit the mark for some of us who want something lightweight or custom. I teamed up with a good friend who’s a web developer, and together we kicked off this project with a simple goal: create a user-friendly website that you can run in your own network to keep an eye on servers, services, and the health of your homelab setup.

What It Does So Far

We’re still in the very early stages—we’re talking version 0.0.0.0.5—but it’s already showing promise. The tool can ping servers to check availability, monitor some basic services, and display status in a clean, simple web interface. It’s not packed with features yet, but the core idea is there: a lightweight, no-frills network monitor you actually want to use.

What Could Make It Better?

That’s where I’d love to hear from others. What do you think is essential in a network monitor? Maybe you need detailed alerts, custom dashboards, or integration with popular tools like Grafana or Prometheus? The beauty of building your own is you can tailor it exactly to your needs, but it’s easy to miss something important without feedback.

Why It Matters

Running your own custom network monitor helps take the guesswork out of maintaining your homelab. You get immediate info if something goes down, so you can fix issues before they become a bigger headache. A simple but effective monitor saves time and stress.

Getting Started with Your Own Setup

If the idea of building or customizing your own network monitor sparks your interest, here are a few resources and ideas to get going:

• Check out Nagios, a veteran in network monitoring with tons of plugins.
• Look into Zabbix, which offers a robust feature set but can be complex.
• Consider lightweight tools like Netdata for real-time metrics without heavy setup.

Building your own tool from scratch can be as simple or elaborate as you want, but it’s definitely rewarding. Plus, having a network monitor that fits your brain and setup is a win.

If you’re curious about making your own or improving an existing monitor, you might want to start small and expand from there. Sometimes, less really is more.

Curious to hear what you think is important in a network monitor. Drop your thoughts or ideas—who knows, maybe your suggestion will shape the next version!