Monitor Internet Latency on Debian using SmokePing

Last updated: Feb 16, 2025

Here we'll look at how to monitor Internet link latency with SmokePing on Debian.

The aim is to get a graphical view showing the latency of the Internet link over time.

Indeed, if you have doubts about the reliability of an Internet connection, it may be useful to be able to test it over time and have a graphical representation of these tests. This is precisely what SmokePing allows you to do.

Note

OS: Debian 11 (bullseye)
SmokePing: 2.7.3

Installation

Update package sources list:

root@server:~# apt update

Install smokeping package with the required dependencies:

root@server:~# apt install smokeping

Connect to the web page:

http://A.B.C.D/smokeping/

After a few minutes, some data should appear:

SmokePing graphs displaying Internet latency metrics such as max roundtrip time, standard deviation, packet loss, and median roundtrip time. — SmokePing Charts view

Configuration

Now, we will see how to add the destinations we want to monitor. For this example, I will test CloudflareDNS, GoogleDNS and Multihost (which will represent the average of both previous values).

Edit /etc/smokeping/config.d/Targets file:

*** Targets ***

probe = FPing

menu = Top
title = Network Latency Grapher
remark = Welcome to the SmokePing website of xxx Company. \
         Here you will learn all about the latency of our network.

+ Local

menu = Local
title = Local Network
#parents = owner:/Test/James location:/

++ LocalMachine

menu = Local Machine
title = This host
host = localhost
#alerts = someloss

++ CloudflareDNS

menu = Cloudflare DNS
title = Cloudflare DNS server
host = 1.1.1.1

++ GoogleDNS

menu = Google DNS
title = Google DNS server
host = 8.8.4.4

++ MultiHost

menu = Multihost Google and CloudFlare
title = CloudflareDNS and Google DNS
host = /Local/CloudflareDNS /Local/GoogleDNS

Restart smokeping service:

root@server:~# systemctl restart smokeping.service

After a few minutes, you should see our new graph views:

SmokePing interface displaying local network latency graphs, including Cloudflare DNS, Google DNS, and a combined multihost view. — SmokePing Local view

Debug

Run smokeping in debug mode:

root@server:~# sudo smokeping --debug

Smokeping working folder:

root@server:~# ls /var/run/smokeping/