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NodeSniff NodeSniff

FAQ

  1. What is NodeSniff?

    NodeSniff is a lightweight Linux monitoring platform that collects system metrics and displays them in a centralized dashboard. It is designed for servers, IoT devices, Raspberry Pi, drones, edge computers, and other Linux-based systems.

  2. Is NodeSniff free?

    Yes. You can monitor up to 5 devices completely free. Paid plans are available for larger deployments and additional features.

  3. Which operating systems are supported?

    NodeSniff currently supports Linux distributions including Ubuntu, Debian, Raspberry Pi OS, CentOS, Rocky Linux, AlmaLinux and most modern Linux-based systems.

  4. What metrics does NodeSniff collect?

    CPU usage, memory usage, disk space, load average, uptime, network information, operating system details, agent version, and custom metrics provided by plugins.

  5. Does NodeSniff support Raspberry Pi and IoT devices?

    Yes. NodeSniff is designed for lightweight hardware and works well on Raspberry Pi, industrial computers, gateways, weather stations, and other embedded Linux devices.

  6. Can NodeSniff work without an Internet connection?

    Yes. The NodeSniff agent can continue collecting metrics while offline and automatically upload buffered data when connectivity is restored. This makes it ideal for remote locations and mobile deployments.

  7. How much system resources does the agent use?

    The agent is lightweight and designed to have minimal impact on CPU, memory, and network bandwidth, making it suitable even for resource-constrained devices.

  8. Is communication secure?

    Yes. All communication between the agent and the NodeSniff server is encrypted using HTTPS. Each agent authenticates using its own API token.

  9. Can I monitor my own server?

    Absolutely. You can deploy NodeSniff on your own infrastructure or use the hosted service, depending on your requirements.

  10. Does the NodeSniff Agent require inbound firewall ports?

    No. The NodeSniff Agent communicates exclusively through outbound HTTPS connections. No inbound ports need to be opened on monitored systems.

  11. Can the NodeSniff Agent execute remote commands?

    No. The agent is designed solely for monitoring and telemetry collection. It does not provide remote command execution or remote shell capabilities.

  12. Can the NodeSniff Agent access my files?

    No. The agent does not collect user files, file contents, passwords, SSH keys, browser history, shell history, or personal documents.

  13. What information does the NodeSniff Agent collect?

    The agent collects operational monitoring data such as CPU usage, memory usage, disk utilization, load average, uptime, operating system information, network configuration, hardware information, and optional custom metrics configured by the user.

  14. Can I verify what the NodeSniff Agent does?

    Yes. The NodeSniff Agent is fully open source. Anyone can inspect the source code on GitHub to verify exactly what information is collected and transmitted.

  15. How long are monitoring metrics stored?

    Historical monitoring metrics are retained for 30 days. Older metrics are automatically removed according to the platform's retention policy.

  16. How are API tokens protected?

    Each monitored system uses a unique API token for authentication. If a token is revoked or becomes invalid, the agent automatically removes the stored credentials and requires re-registration before monitoring can continue.

  17. Can NodeSniff work behind a firewall?

    Yes. Since all communication is initiated by the agent using outbound HTTPS connections, NodeSniff works well in environments protected by firewalls without requiring inbound access to monitored systems.