Using Your Router
Everyone has a router, and you can access it from nearly any device on your network. All your traffic already flows through the router, so it’s the most direct source of information about what’s going on within the network.
Wireshark
Wireshark is an open-source tool for packet filtering. If you don’t know what packet filtering is, it’s a much lower level network management task, so Wireshark can be considered overkill for simply viewing traffic on your network. That said, it can absolutely get the job done. Plus, it’s free and available for Windows, Mac, and Linux.
Why Monitor Your Network?
It might seem a little too tech-y or excessive, spying on all the traffic going through your home network, but it can help provide valuable insights into your network’s performance. If you’re on Linux, Wireshark is probably in your distribution’s repositories. Ubuntu and Debian users should install Wireshark with: You’ll uncover exactly which devices, or even specific programs, are hogging your bandwidth. Through network monitoring, you can uncover where you computers are connecting and how much data they’re sending or receiving. Then, you’ll be able to correct any problems and make better use of your network.
