NetSonar: A Lightweight, Cross-Platform Network Diagnostics Toolbox

In today’s world of distributed systems and DevOps collaboration, network issues—packet loss, latency spikes, unreachable endpoints—can arise when least expected. Without a flexible, intuitive tool, troubleshooting feels like searching for a needle in a haystack.

NetSonar addresses these challenges with an all-in-one solution: multi-protocol pings (ICMP, TCP, UDP, HTTP), subnet and port scanning, live interface monitoring, and more—all packaged in a lightweight client that runs on Windows, macOS, and major Linux distributions. This guide walks you through NetSonar’s design rationale, core architecture, installation methods, and real-world use cases so you can get up and running quickly.

1. Key Advantages of NetSonar

Comprehensive Protocol Coverage
NetSonar supports ICMP, TCP, UDP, and HTTP pings. Whether you need to verify network-layer reachability or measure application-layer response times, this tool has you covered.

Effortless Cross-Platform Deployment
Built on .NET 6+, NetSonar delivers native binaries for Windows, macOS, and Linux. A single command or script installs it—no complex dependencies required.

Modern, Intuitive Interface
Leveraging Avalonia and SukiUI for a Fluent-style UI, combined with LiveCharts for real-time plotting, NetSonar makes network metrics visible at a glance.

Lightweight and Customizable
The installer footprint is minimal. You can switch themes, adjust colors, and brand the interface to fit your organization’s identity.

Open Source and Community-Driven
Hosted on GitHub, NetSonar welcomes issues and pull requests. Whether you want to add a new protocol, enhance visualizations, or fix a bug, community contributions propel the project forward.

These strengths translate into real benefits:

  • Automated Monitoring: Schedule periodic pings to key nodes; get alerted on packet loss or latency anomalies.
  • Rapid Troubleshooting: When a service goes offline, protocol comparisons reveal whether the issue lies at the network or application layer.
  • Performance Benchmarking: Bulk-test host responsiveness before and after deployments to ensure SLAs are met.
  • Educational Demonstrations: In networking workshops or classrooms, visualize ping mechanics across layers with a user-friendly GUI.

2. Inside NetSonar’s Architecture

NetSonar comprises three synergistic components:

2.1 Core Engine

  • Protocol Abstraction: Unified interfaces for ICMP, TCP, UDP, and HTTP requests, supporting concurrent tasks and timeout settings.
  • Subnet & Port Scanning: Multi-threaded scanning algorithms for IP ranges (CIDR) and user-defined port lists, aggregating results efficiently.

2.2 Graphical User Interface

  • Avalonia Framework: Cross-platform windowing with consistent behavior on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
  • SukiUI Components: Customizable panels, buttons, and sidebars styled in a Fluent theme.
  • LiveCharts Integration: Dynamic charts updating in real-time to display latency trends, packet loss, and throughput.

2.3 Automated Installer

  • Windows (Winget): winget install -e --id PTRTECH.NetSonar installs the latest release.

  • macOS/Linux (Shell Script):

    bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/sn4k3/NetSonar/main/scripts/install-netsonar.sh)"

  • Version Pinning: Append a version argument (e.g., -- 1.2.3) to rollback or test specific releases.

Together, these modules offer both command-line automation and a polished desktop dashboard for interactive analysis.

3. Streamlined Installation Guide

3.1 Windows via Winget

Open PowerShell and run:

winget install -e --id PTRTECH.NetSonar

After installation, launch NetSonar from the Start menu, run NetSonar in the terminal, or click the desktop icon.

3.2 macOS and Linux with One Script

Ensure curl is installed; then execute:

bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/sn4k3/NetSonar/main/scripts/install-netsonar.sh)"

The script auto-detects your OS and CPU architecture, downloads the matching binary, places it under /usr/local/bin, and creates both desktop and terminal entries.

To install a previous version:

bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/sn4k3/NetSonar/main/scripts/install-netsonar.sh)" -- 1.2.3

3.3 Manual Download

Visit the GitHub Releases page to download compressed archives for your platform.

4. Core Features in Action

4.1 Multi-Protocol Ping

Often, ICMP pings succeed while application services remain unreachable. NetSonar’s protocol options help pinpoint where the issue lies:

  • ICMP: Basic echo-request/reply for network-layer reachability.
  • TCP: SYN-based timing to bypass ICMP-blocking firewalls.
  • UDP: Zero-length UDP packets with ICMP Port Unreachable feedback—ideal for DNS and streaming scenarios.
  • HTTP: GET requests capturing response codes and payload timings at the application layer.

Switch protocols in the GUI or use CLI flags like --protocol tcp to compare latency charts side by side.

4.2 Subnet and Port Scanning

Quickly identify live hosts and open services:

  1. Input a CIDR range (e.g., 192.168.1.0/24).
  2. Define a port list or choose common service presets.
  3. Start the scan and export results as CSV, including IP addresses, ports, service status, and response latency.

Use these CSV files in spreadsheets or data tools for further analysis.

4.3 Live Interface Management

Within the Interfaces tab, you can:

  • View IP address, subnet mask, gateway, and DNS settings for each adapter.
  • Monitor real-time traffic statistics for sent/received packets and bandwidth usage.
  • Enable or disable interfaces with a single click—handy for testing multi-NIC or virtual networks.
Network Interfaces Overview

4.4 Visualization and Reporting

NetSonar’s charts update live:

  • Latency Trends: Line graphs showing minimum, maximum, and average response times.
  • Packet Loss: Visual indicators when packets are dropped.
  • Throughput: Real-time bandwidth for UDP and HTTP tests.

Export snapshots or CSV data for inclusion in reports or presentations.

5. Advanced Configuration and Integration

5.1 Scripting with CLI Mode

Under the hood, every GUI action has a CLI equivalent. Common examples:

# Single ping test
NetSonar ping --host example.com --protocol http --count 5

# Subnet scan with port list
NetSonar scan --range 10.0.0.0/16 --ports 22,80,443

# Export interfaces to JSON
NetSonar interface list --output interfaces.json

Combine these commands in shell scripts or CI pipelines to automate network health checks.

5.2 Theming and Branding

NetSonar’s UI packages include theme files you can modify:

  1. Locate the themes directory under installation path.
  2. Edit the JSON definitions for colors, fonts, and logo.
  3. Restart the application to see your custom branding.

Large organizations can align the interface with corporate style guides.

5.3 API for Extensions

The Core Engine exposes a lightweight local API on http://localhost:5000 (configurable port). You can:

  • Trigger ping tests programmatically.
  • Retrieve JSON-formatted results for dashboard embedding.
  • Integrate with monitoring systems like Prometheus or Grafana.

Example curl call:

curl http://localhost:5000/api/ping?host=example.com&protocol=tcp

6. Community Contributions and Support

NetSonar thrives on open collaboration:

  • Report Issues: Found a bug or want a new feature? Open an issue on GitHub.
  • Submit Pull Requests: Fork the repo, build your changes, and send a PR.
  • Join Discussions: Participate in feature planning or help newcomers in issue threads.

Contributors are recognized in the project’s contributors graph.

If you appreciate the project, consider sponsoring development:

7. Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I run NetSonar headless on a server?
A: Yes. All GUI functions have CLI equivalents. Simply install, run commands, and redirect output to files or monitoring tools.

Q: Does NetSonar require elevated privileges?
A: For ICMP on Linux or macOS, you may need root permissions. TCP, UDP, and HTTP tests work without special privileges.

Q: How do I roll back to an older version?
A: Use the --version flag in the install script or specify a tag in Winget commands.

Q: Is there an official Docker image?
A: Not at present, but community members have shared Dockerfiles in issue threads.

NetSonar brings network diagnostics into a unified, user-friendly environment. Its combination of multi-protocol testing, real-time visualization, automation capabilities, and open extensibility makes troubleshooting faster and more transparent. Whether you’re an administrator maintaining uptime or a developer optimizing application performance, NetSonar offers the tools to keep your network running smoothly.