Last Updated on September 13, 2026
Network monitoring is nothing new. If you work at a large company in the IT department, there is a good chance that you have some type of robust network monitoring tools. If you work in a small office or have your own network at home, you may not want to spend the money on expensive network monitoring tools. You probably need something that just does the basics.
We will be showing you exactly how to monitor network connected devices at set intervals to make sure they are up and running. This prevents massive downtime for your critical infrastructure.
Setting Up Network Alarmer
1. Download the Application
To accomplish this task, we will be using a completely free app called Network Alarmer by Vovsoft. You can download the software directly from their official website here. This lightweight tool provides instant ping monitoring without eating up your system resources.
2. Choose Your Installation Type
There is an option for a standard installable version as well as a standalone portable version. For the portable version, you simply extract the zip file and run the executable file to start the app. You can then create a manual shortcut to the exe file on your Windows desktop or taskbar for quick access.
3. Understand the Interface
Network Alarmer has a dedicated air conditioner system monitor if you have networked attached AC units in a server room. If you do, then you most likely have some more advanced enterprise monitoring software that you already use for them. You will most likely be using the Ping Hostname List feature of the software instead.
Configuring Your Ping Hostname List
1. Discover Local Devices Automatically
If you click on the button that says Discover Local Devices in the Ping Hostname List section, Network Alarmer will go out on your network. It actively looks for connected devices that it can add to the list for you. This saves you from having to type out every single IP address manually.
2. Add Custom Hosts Manually
You can also add your own specific hostnames, IP addresses, and external websites manually. Just type the address directly into the text box. This allows you to monitor remote web servers and local printers simultaneously.
3. Configure the Dial List (Optional)
The Dial List section can be used to add specific phone numbers that can be called when the app detects that a device is down. You will absolutely need to have a physical analog modem attached to your computer to use this legacy feature.
4. Create Custom Alert Scripts
You can also create a custom script that will do something such as send you an automated email when it detects an outage. Paste the exact URL of your PHP mailer script into the Alarm Script box. You can find highly detailed information on how to configure these specific web settings directly on their website.
Monitoring Your Network Status
1. Adjust the Check Interval
As you can see in the image above, after the check interval time has passed, Network Alarmer will check the status of your configured hosts. It will show the real-time results in the black terminal box below. You can change the check interval to a different number if desired. The 600 seconds mark is the default setting.
2. Review Failure Alerts
If a networked device cannot be contacted, Network Alarmer will show the specific results in bright red text. It will instantly sound an audible alarm through your computer speakers to notify you that there is a severe problem. You can change the wav file sound for this feature if needed.
3. Check Script Errors
If you have configured a custom alert script and the software has an issue executing it, the system will warn you. You will be shown the specific script connection results in red as well. This tells you the web server hosting your script is currently offline.
Managing Logs and Manual Checks
1. Run a Manual Check
Sometimes you need to verify connectivity immediately after rebooting a server. If you do not want to wait for the standard check interval time to pass, you can force a scan. Click on the Manual Check button located at the bottom left to run a full ping check instantly.
2. Review Historical Logs
The Show Logs button will open the hidden system log folder. This folder will contain a raw text file showing you the exact results of the checks that have been run in the past. This is incredibly useful for tracking down intermittent network drops that happen overnight.
3. Explore Alternative Software
If you find that Network Alarmer does not fit your specific needs, there are other free tools available. If you are looking for another similar application with a slightly different interface, then check out PingInfoView. It provides excellent grid-based monitoring for dozens of servers.
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