Network Monitor II overview

Version 28.3 released at 09/20/2020

When you using your PC you may encounter the fact that the Internet suddenly stops working. For check what's happened you have to open a number of command line windows, check Windows settings and open browser windows to see what is working and what is not. Does not sound very attractive, does it? Solution is simple. A small Windows 10 Sidebar gadget called Network Monitor II can save your time and make things easier if you want to see the current real-time network status.

Network Monitor II is free indicator of the Internet connection for monitoring the status and activity of your connection, namely accounting for outgoing and incoming speed, upload and download traffic, information about the level and source of the Wi-Fi connection, internal and external IP (with country flag), GateWay, DNS directly on your desktop. For security reason all servers for determining country flag are use SSL protocol. With Network Monitor II information can be accessed without installing any monitoring tools. Also gadget are included details about bandwidth usage with graphs. If you wish the traffic counter lets you automatically save data when the gadget is shut down. Network Monitor II provides you with detailed information about the provider of the current external IP address when you put the mouse cursor over the flag displayed on the right side. The gadget must be in focus before you do it.

Network Monitor II is an indispensable gadget for users who need to find out their current IP address. Since it displays both the external and internal IP address for your PC, you can use it to know how to access your router’s web interface or to configure some server running from your PC. It is worth adding that the program automatically update IP addresses when you restart the server or connect to the Internet. In addition, the application can record all the changed IPs to a log file.

An interesting feature of the gadget is the ability to execute the specified program in the event of disconnection and/or restoration of the Internet connection. Moreover, gadget can inform you play special sound about many events related to your network and Internet connection and even change your current IP. You can always set gadget to stop check your External IP for privacy reason.

Furthermore Network Monitor II can automatically detect which network wired or wireless you use and switch between them when you change it. See advices below how you can set up this feature.

The Info link extends the information provided by the gadget. It open fly-out window with data related with the network interface such as the both (IPv4 and IPv6) addresses, MAC address, subnet mask, the Internet gateway, the DHCP and the DNS servers that is used by the computer and so on.

The interface is designed for customization that will let you choose the size and information to be displayed. Two default styles are installed, but this will not restrict you personalize the color of every element, which will suit your liking. If the changes seem uncomfortable, you can always restore the default setting with just one click. Network Monitor II works on both 32-bit and 64-bit systems.

Network Monitor II features explained:

Actual servers using by gadget [02-05-2019] For External IP https:// ipecho.net [US] https:// whatismyipaddress.com [US] https:// wtfismyip.com [US] https:// ipify.org [US] For country flag https:// extreme-ip-lookup.com [NL] https:// www.iplocation.net [US] https:// www.xmyip.com [US] https:// whoer.net [US] For IPv6 (into flyout) https:// v6.ipv6-test.com/ [FR]

Special features

Click on GW/Int.IP (in a right side) for switch show between Gateway and Internal IP. When you have more than one Internal IP click on Int.IP (in a left side) for switching between Internal IPs. If it is happens cursor changed to pointer when you move it above this string. Click on Info for show additional information into flyout window, click again - close flyout window. Hover mouse to country flag for show additional information. When you have more than one DNS click on DNS (in a left side) for switching between DNS. If it is happens cursor changed to pointer when you move it above this string. Click on icon ( / ) for stop/resume external IP tracking. Click on connection identification icon ( or/and ) for switch between connection type. Hover mouse to "Current" or "Total" for view summary traffic. Click on refresh icon for refresh gadget. In flyout window click on every element for copy corresponding element into clipboard. Double click on background will show Network And Sharing Center. Hover mouse to title for show next counters reset data/time if it is set. Hover mouse to corresponding IP for show current network interface. Gray name mean that this NIC disconnected right now. But you can select it for working in future when it connected.

Advice 1: for use switch between connection type you must do follow step.

Go to settings tab #2. Select "Connection type" and both network interfaces for IP and monitoring for switching. Press "Set net settings for switching" button. Back "Connection type" and both network interfaces for IP and monitoring to their current position. Press "Set net settings for switching" button. Press Ok button.

After this steps you can change between connections by clicking on connection identification icon ( or/and ). After first clicking you change net parameters to parameters saved after click "Set net settings for switching" button. Next click on connection identification icon ( or/and ) restore net parameters to their current position.

Advice 2: before check "Auto pick the network type" option you must do follow step.

Go to settings tab #2. Select "Connection type" and both network interfaces for IP and monitoring for first network. Press "Set net settings for switching" button. Back "Connection type" and both network interfaces for IP and monitoring for second network. Press "Set net settings for switching" button. Check "Auto pick the network type" box. Press Ok button.

In this case if you switch to wireless net gadget automatically changes to wireless mode. When you break wireless net gadget immediately back to wired mode.

Advice 3: what is it "Forcibly scan Internet (for router) " option.

When you use a network card and any change in the connection status appears as a special event, which can be easily recorded by the gadget. However, if you use an external device, such as a router, the events are likely to be skipped or not detected. Thus, enabling the dedicated option, "Forcibly scan Internet (for router)", the gadget can check the Internet connection on demand. When this box checked gadget periodically (use "Scan every" field value) check internet connection. The interval between scans is measured in minutes. If you enter a too small interval, this can lead to increased traffic.

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