Custom Network Maps with PRTG: Live Visualization for Your Entire Network

PRTG scans your network at configurable intervals and builds a live device tree from what it finds. From there, you decide what that looks like. The map editor is drag-and-drop: pull nodes onto a canvas, connect them to represent dependencies, drop in a background image if you want to overlay everything onto a floor plan or rack diagram. Every node reflects near real-time sensor data. Device status, bandwidth, packet loss: whatever PRTG is already monitoring shows up directly on the map.

That's the short version. The longer one is worth reading if you're evaluating network mapping tools, or if you're already running PRTG and haven't looked at the maps feature yet.

Two Approaches to Network Mapping Software

Most network mapping software falls into one of two categories, and both involve real trade-offs.

Manual charting tools give you full control over what the map looks like. You place symbols for switches, servers, firewalls, and other network devices exactly where you want them. Accuracy is high because a human reviewed everything. The trade-off is maintenance. Every change in your network infrastructure means a manual update, and in environments where things move fast, keeping those maps current takes real effort.

Asset scanners take the opposite approach. They scan the network, find connected devices, pull data via SNMP or ICMP, and generate a map automatically. Low effort up front, and the results give you a solid starting point. Device detection accuracy varies depending on how individual devices respond to discovery queries, so some manual cleanup after the initial scan is fairly common.

PRTG sits between these. Auto-discovery handles the initial scan: detecting new devices, identifying their IP address, starting monitoring via SNMP, WMI, ICMP, or other supported protocols. The visual layout is yours to configure from there. You get the time savings of automated discovery with the control of a manual tool. 

What Goes on a Custom Map

A PRTG custom map covers a lot more than device icons and connection lines. You can surface:

• Device status for any monitored node: routers, firewalls, switches, servers, endpoints
• Bandwidth per interface, updated per your configured scan interval
• Sensor thresholds for latency, packet loss, CPU load, and anything else already tracked in PRTG, updated near real-time on each scan cycle
• Downtime indicators tied directly to monitoring state, so the map reflects current conditions rather than the last known state
• Subnet groupings by segment or location, useful for larger networks where a single flat map gets unwieldy
• Dependencies between devices, so the map reflects actual network flow rather than just inventory
• Sensor data, graphs, and status tables embedded directly in the map view for teams that want combined observability in one place

Background images work across all of this. Upload a floor plan, a geographic overview, a rack diagram. Nodes sit on top and update near real-time based on your scan interval. For distributed networks this is particularly useful, since it grounds the map in a physical or logical structure your team already works with. 

Layer Two Mapping: Where PRTG Stops

PRTG doesn't do layer two mapping natively. If you need full network topology mapping at that level, Paessler PRTG UVexplorer handles it, a separately installed extension that connects to PRTG via the API. For most IT environments, the built-in visualization covers day-to-day network management and troubleshooting well. But if layer two is a firm requirement, Paessler PRTG UVexplorer is the right path and worth factoring in from the start. 

PRTG vs. Standalone Network Diagram Tools

Standalone network diagram tools do one thing well. The advantage of doing this inside PRTG is that the map is already connected to your monitoring data. No export, no sync, no separate login. A firewall status change shows up on the map because PRTG is already watching that device. 

Where Custom Maps Add Value

Faster troubleshooting

A live map gives you immediate visibility into what's affected and how it connects to the rest of the network. You get the topology context directly in the map without switching tools or reconstructing device relationships from raw sensor data.

Large or segmented networks

Multiple subnets, locations, and network segments are straightforward to handle: build a map per segment, link between them, and each view stays focused. Teams working on specific parts of the network get exactly the detail they need without wading through everything else.

Communicating network status outside the team

Custom maps in PRTG can be scoped down to key nodes, critical dependencies, and overall network performance. That makes them useful for status updates and reporting without requiring a separate tool or manual export.

Keeping maps current after network changes

Auto-discovery picks up new devices as they join the network. Adding them to the relevant map takes a few clicks. The monitoring is already running, so the map stays accurate with minimal overhead.

Things Worth Knowing Before You Start

Does PRTG support background images in custom maps?

Yes. Upload any image and use it as the canvas background: floor plans, rack diagrams, geographic overviews. Nodes and status indicators sit on top and update near real-time per your configured scan interval.

What protocols does PRTG use to discover and monitor network devices?

Auto-discovery uses SNMP, ICMP, WMI, and other supported protocols depending on device type. Routers, firewalls, switches, and Microsoft environments all have dedicated sensor types. Which protocol gets used depends on what the device supports and how discovery is configured.

Can PRTG do full network topology mapping including layer two?

Not natively. PRTG's built-in maps cover device status, dependencies, and performance metrics well. Full layer two network topology mapping is handled by Paessler PRTG UVexplorer, a separately installed extension that connects to PRTG via the API.

How does PRTG handle large enterprise networks in custom maps?

Build multiple maps and link between them. Subnet-level views and location-based layouts scale well to enterprise network environments. PRTG supports large, multi-map setups, so build as many maps as your network requires.

Is PRTG network mapping software free?

There's a free 30-day trial with full functionality: custom maps, auto-discovery, all sensor types. After the trial, pricing depends on the selected plan. Details at paessler.com/prtg. 

Start Mapping Your Network with PRTG

PRTG's custom maps connect directly to your monitoring data. Auto-discovery handles the initial scan, your team configures the layout, and every node reflects live metrics from that point forward. No static diagrams to maintain separately, no additional network mapping solution to run alongside your monitoring stack.

The 30-day trial is free and includes full access to custom maps, dashboards, and all sensor types. Start your free PRTG trial and build your first custom network map today.