Network Scanner Tool

A single-executable network monitoring tool that continuously scans your internet connection and displays real-time metrics in a browser-based dashboard. Perfect for identifying gaming lag issues by monitoring latency, packet loss, speeds, jitter, and DNS lookup times.

Features

• Real-time Monitoring: Continuously tracks network metrics every 2-3 seconds
• Comprehensive Metrics:
  • Latency (ping to multiple servers)
  • Packet Loss percentage
  • Download/Upload speeds
  • Jitter (latency variation)
  • DNS lookup times
• Beautiful Dashboard: Modern, responsive web interface with interactive charts
• Single Executable: No installation required - just run the .exe file
• Auto-opens Browser: Automatically opens your default browser when started

Quick Start

Option 1: Run as Executable (Recommended)

1. Build the executable:

   pip install -r requirements.txt
   python build_exe.py

2. Run the executable from the dist folder:

   • Double-click NetworkScanner.exe
   • The tool will start a local web server and open your browser automatically
   • Navigate to http://127.0.0.1:5000 if the browser doesn't open automatically

Option 2: Run from Source

1. Install dependencies:

   pip install -r requirements.txt

2. Run the application:

   python app.py

3. Open your browser and navigate to:

   http://127.0.0.1:5000
   

Usage

1. Start the Application: Run the executable or start the Python script
2. Monitor Metrics: The dashboard will automatically start collecting and displaying metrics
3. View Charts: Each metric has a real-time chart showing trends over time
4. Color Coding:
   • Green: Good performance
   • Yellow: Warning (moderate issues)
   • Red: Poor performance (likely causing lag)

Metrics Explained

• Latency: The time it takes for data to travel to a server and back (measured in milliseconds). Lower is better for gaming.
• Packet Loss: Percentage of data packets that fail to reach their destination. Should be close to 0%.
• Download Speed: How fast you can receive data from the internet (Mbps).
• Upload Speed: How fast you can send data to the internet (Mbps).
• Jitter: Variation in latency. Consistent latency is important for smooth gaming.
• DNS Lookup Time: Time it takes to resolve domain names to IP addresses (ms).

Technical Details

Architecture

• Backend: Python Flask server
• Frontend: HTML/CSS/JavaScript with Chart.js
• Network Libraries: ping3, speedtest-cli, psutil
• Packaging: PyInstaller for single-file executable

API Endpoints

• GET / - Main dashboard page
• GET /api/metrics - Get current network metrics
• POST /api/start - Start continuous monitoring
• POST /api/stop - Stop monitoring
• GET /api/status - Get monitoring status

Requirements

• Python 3.7+ (for building from source)
• Windows 10+ (for the executable)
• Internet connection
• Administrator privileges may be required for ping functionality on some systems

Troubleshooting

Ping Not Working

• On Windows, you may need to run as Administrator
• Some firewalls block ICMP ping requests
• Check if your network allows ping traffic

Speedtest Not Running

• Speedtest runs every 5 minutes to avoid constant bandwidth usage
• Initial speedtest may take 30-60 seconds
• Ensure you have an active internet connection

Browser Doesn't Open Automatically

• Manually navigate to http://127.0.0.1:5000
• Check if port 5000 is already in use
• Check firewall settings

Building the Executable

To create your own executable:

1. Install PyInstaller:

   pip install pyinstaller

2. Run the build script:

   python build_exe.py

3. Find the executable in the dist folder

License

This project is provided as-is for personal use.

Notes

• The tool runs a local web server on port 5000
• Speedtest is run every 5 minutes to avoid excessive bandwidth usage
• Metrics are collected every 2-3 seconds for real-time monitoring
• The tool requires an active internet connection to function properly