Argus
New York, New York, United States
What it is
Argus is an open-source network audit system that generates flow data from network traffic. It consists of a packet-processing sensor and a set of data-processing programs called argus-clients. The sensor can process packets on the wire or in captures, while clients can be combined into real-time pipelines or used for analytics. The project describes more than 175 flow attributes covering network identification, services, resource use, and packet dynamics, and says its data encompasses formats including NetFlow, Jflow, Qflow, Kflow, and IPFIX. Uses include network security, performance analysis, operations management, forensics, machine learning, and research. Data can be stored in filesystem archives or MySQL tables, or both. Clients support country-code lookup through InterNIC databases and can be configured for MaxMind GeoIP. The ranonymize client can mask network addresses and other fields, but the project cautions that this is not perfect anonymization. Argus is released under GPLv2, with other licensing options available by contacting the project. General binary distributions are no longer provided, so users may need to build from source. It supports Linux, macOS, Windows, and self-hosted deployment.
For and against
For
- Generates flow data from live traffic or captures.
- Includes more than 175 flow attributes.
- Supports filesystem archives and MySQL storage.
- Can form real-time processing pipelines.
Against
- General binary distributions are no longer provided.
- Default anonymization is not perfect.
- Source requires libpcap and GNU bison.
The verdict
Argus provides a broad flow-data toolkit for monitoring and analysis, with storage and processing options. Users should account for the build requirements and the project’s warning about anonymization.
Who it suits
Argus is suited to network operators and researchers who need flow data for security, performance, operations, or analytics. It may fit teams comfortable building from source or using maintained packages available for some Linux variants.
On the record
- Analysis
- Argus flow records are used for network security, performance analysis, operations management, forensics, and machine learning.openargus.org · read 8 Oct 2026
- Anonymization
- The ranonymize client can anonymize network addresses and other fields, but the maker cautions that its default protection is not perfect.openargus.org · read 8 Oct 2026
- Components
- The system consists of the Argus packet processing sensor and the argus-clients data processing programs.openargus.org · read 8 Oct 2026
- Data storage
- Argus data can be stored in filesystem archives or MySQL tables, and the maker describes using both together.openargus.org · read 8 Oct 2026
- Dependency and remote access
- Argus source requires libpcap and GNU bison, and the maker says it can be linked with cyrus-sasl for remote access security.openargus.org · read 8 Oct 2026
- Distribution
- The project says it no longer provides general binary distributions; users can build packages from source, and some Linux variants provide maintained packages.openargus.org · read 7 Oct 2026
- Flow attributes
- The maker says Argus data includes over 175 attributes covering network identification, services, resource utilization, and packet dynamics.openargus.org · read 8 Oct 2026
- Flow data
- The site says Argus data has over 175 attributes covering network identification, services, resource utilization, and packet dynamics.openargus.org · read 7 Oct 2026
- Geolocation
- Argus clients support country-code lookup through InterNIC databases and can be configured to use MaxMind GeoIP libraries and databases.openargus.org · read 8 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- The clients can use InterNIC country-code databases and can be configured to use MaxMind GeoIP libraries and databases.openargus.org · read 7 Oct 2026
- License
- Argus is released under GPLv2, and the maker invites inquiries about other licensing options.openargus.org · read 8 Oct 2026
- Payload capture
- Payload capture in flow records is configurable and disabled by default; the maker says anonymization removes payload data.openargus.org · read 8 Oct 2026
- Privacy
- The ranonymize client can anonymize network addresses and other fields by default, but the site warns this is not perfect anonymization.openargus.org · read 7 Oct 2026
- Processing
- The sensor can process packets on the wire or in captures, and the clients can be combined into real-time data pipelines or used for analytics.openargus.org · read 7 Oct 2026
- Protocols and formats
- The maker describes Argus data as a superset of flow technologies including NetFlow, Jflow, Qflow, Kflow, and IPFIX.openargus.org · read 8 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Argus is an open source network audit system that generates flow records from network traffic.openargus.org · read 8 Oct 2026
- Storage
- The site describes storing Argus data in native filesystem archives or MySQL tables, including use of both approaches together.openargus.org · read 7 Oct 2026
- Support
- The project provides announcement and development mailing lists and directs users to mailing lists or QoSient for contact.openargus.org · read 8 Oct 2026
