Network Management

Using Fprobe to send flows from a Linux box to NTA

Fprobe is a Linux solution similar to nProbe for Windows. Fprobe is a libpcap-based tool that collects network traffic data and emits it as NetFlow flows towards the specified collector. This allows you to span or mirror a port from your network device that is not flow-capable and use Fprobe to create flows for analysis in NTA.

First published date

10/20/2018 5:55 PM

Last published date

7/22/2026 10:38 PM

Overview

Details on nProbe for Windows users here:
http://thwack.solarwinds.com/community/solarwinds-community/product-blog/blog/2009/11/10/orion-nta-and-nprobe-analyzing-bandwidth-hogs-without-flow-capable-network-equipment.

Product section

Netflow Traffic Analyzer

Resolution

This article assumes you have Fprobe installed on a Linux box and are attempting to send flows to NTA. Fprobe can be downloaded from most repositories or here: http://fprobe.sourceforge.net/

You need to run two processes, one for in and one for out. These are designed for high load:

/usr/local/fprobe/sbin/fprobe -x1:2 -ieth1 -B4096 -r2 -q10000 -t10000:10000000 -a 1.1.1.1 2.2.2.2:2055
/usr/local/fprobe/sbin/fprobe -x2:1 -ieth1 -B4096 -r2 -q10000 -t10000:10000000 -a 1.1.1.1 2.2.2.2:2055

Explanation:
1.1.1.1 = Source IP
2.2.2.2 = NetFlow collector IP (This should be the NTA IP)
2055 = Collector port
X1:2 = InPackets
X2:1 = OutPackets

Disclaimer: Please note, any content posted herein is provided as a suggestion or recommendation to you for your internal use. This is not part of the SolarWinds software or documentation that you purchased from SolarWinds, and the information set forth herein may come from third parties. Your organization should internally review and assess to what extent, if any, such custom scripts or recommendations will be incorporated into your environment. You elect to use third-party content at your own risk, and you will be solely responsible for the incorporation of the same if any.