vnstat command in Linux with Examples
Last Updated :
16 Oct, 2024
vnstat is a command-line tool in Linux that is generally used by system administrators in order to monitor network parameters such as bandwidth consumption or maybe some traffic flowing in or out. It monitors the traffic on the system’s network interfaces.
Installing vnstat on Linux
In case of RedHat-based Linux
yum install vnstat
In case of a ubuntu or Debian Linux
apt install vnstat
Working with vnstat Command
1. To get basic stats of all network interfaces
To see an overview of the network traffic on all connected interfaces:
vnstat
This command will print all the basic stats of the network interfaces connected to the system.
2. To monitor a specific interface
If you want to focus on a specific network interface, use the -i option to specify the interface name:
vnstat -i wlo1
This will monitor and display the stats of the specified interface that is wlo1.
3. To get the daily stats of an interface
To view daily traffic stats on a particular interface:
vnstat -d -i wlo1
This will print the daily stats of the specified interface which is wlo1.
4. To get the hourly stats of an interface
For more granular data, you can check hourly stats with:
vnstat -h -i wlo1
This will print the hourly stats of the specified interface which is wlo1.
5. To display the monthly stats of a interface
To get a broader view of network usage, use the following command to see monthly statistics:
vnstat -m -i wlo1
This command will display the monthly stats of the specified interface.
6. To save output to a XML file
If you need to export your network traffic data in XML format for further analysis or automation, use this command:
vnstat --xml -i wlo1 >output.xml
The command will create an XML file with name output.xml and will have the output of the command in XML format.
7. To save output to a JSON file
For those working with data pipelines or web applications, you may want the data in JSON format. Use the following command:
vnstat --json -i wlo1 >output.json
This command will create a JSON file with name output.json and will have the output of the command in JSON format.
8. To save output to a text file
To save the output in a simple text file format, you can use:
vnstat --oneline -i wlo1 >output.txt
This command will create a text file with name output.txt and will have the output in a one-line format.
9. To calculate traffic on the current interface
If you want to see real-time network traffic statistics, you can use the -tr option:
vnstat -tr
This command will display the traffic on the current network interface in use.
10. To display vnstat help
To learn more about vnstat and its available options, run the help command:
vnstat --help
This command will display the vnstat help section.
Conclusion
The vnstat command is a powerful and flexible tool for monitoring network traffic on Linux systems. Whether you are a system administrator looking to track bandwidth usage or simply someone interested in analyzing network performance, vnstat provides a range of features that cater to both basic and advanced needs.
vnstat command in Linux – FAQs
What is the purpose of the vnstat command?
vnstat is a command-line tool used to monitor network bandwidth and traffic on Linux systems. It tracks data usage over time by monitoring network interfaces and provides detailed stats such as daily, hourly, and monthly data.
How do I view basic stats for all network interfaces using vnstat?
You can view the overall network statistics of all interfaces by simply running:
vnstat
How can I monitor a specific network interface?
To monitor a specific network interface, use the -i flag followed by the interface name:
vnstat -i wlo1
How can I view real-time network statistics using vnstat?
To view real-time network traffic for a specific interface (e.g., eth0), you can use the following command:
vnstat -l -i eth0
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