# 7. Network device remote monitoring

#### <span style="font-weight: 400;">Monitoring through network modules. TCP Service  
</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">In this case, monitoring will be added to verify that an SMTP (email) service is active on a machine. *Although this can be a very complex check* (simulating the sending of user credentials and passwords, sending an email, etc.), it will be simplified here by **only verifying that the port is open and responding**.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">To do this, [some steps from the previous chapter](https://pandorafms.com/guides/public/books/first-steps-with-pandora-fms/page/6-network-device-monitoring-through-snmp-interface-wizard) will be repeated: first creating an agent and then creating a network module (**Network TCP module**):</span>

[![pfms-smtp_agent-image_010.png](https://pandorafms.com/guides/public/uploads/images/gallery/2026-01/scaled-1680-/pfms-smtp-agent-image-010.png)](https://pandorafms.com/guides/public/uploads/images/gallery/2026-01/pfms-smtp-agent-image-010.png)

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Next, use the drop-down controls until the desired check is found, **Check SMTP (25)**, and click to create the module (only necessary fields are shown; *ensure it brings the agent's IP address*):</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">[![pfms-smtp_agent-image_020.png](https://pandorafms.com/guides/public/uploads/images/gallery/2026-01/scaled-1680-/pfms-smtp-agent-image-020.png)](https://pandorafms.com/guides/public/uploads/images/gallery/2026-01/pfms-smtp-agent-image-020.png)</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Finally, the steps will be repeated (go to the operation view and refresh until the monitor appears). Until a module has data, it will be BLUE, indicating that it has not yet been initialized:</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">[![pfms-smtp_agent-image_030.png](https://pandorafms.com/guides/public/uploads/images/gallery/2026-01/scaled-1680-/pfms-smtp-agent-image-030.png)](https://pandorafms.com/guides/public/uploads/images/gallery/2026-01/pfms-smtp-agent-image-030.png)</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">After a few seconds, it should start and take a value: <span style="color: rgb(45, 194, 107);">GREEN</span> if the SMTP server responds, or <span style="color: rgb(224, 62, 45);">RED</span> if it does not:</span>

[![pfms-smtp_agent-image_040.png](https://pandorafms.com/guides/public/uploads/images/gallery/2026-01/scaled-1680-/pfms-smtp-agent-image-040.png)](https://pandorafms.com/guides/public/uploads/images/gallery/2026-01/pfms-smtp-agent-image-040.png)

#### Monitoring through server *plugins*. Network packet loss

<span style="font-weight: 400;">We are going to monitor network packet loss using a remote check that comes preconfigured in Pandora FMS. To do this, go to the **agent administration view**, as we will measure packet loss from Pandora FMS to the IP address of any agent.</span>

[![pfms_firts_steps-packet_loss-image_10.png](https://pandorafms.com/guides/public/uploads/images/gallery/2026-02/scaled-1680-/pfms-firts-steps-packet-loss-image-10.png)](https://pandorafms.com/guides/public/uploads/images/gallery/2026-02/pfms-firts-steps-packet-loss-image-10.png)

And we will create a module of the **Plugin** type:

[![pfms_firts_steps-packet_loss-image_20.png](https://pandorafms.com/guides/public/uploads/images/gallery/2026-02/scaled-1680-/pfms-firts-steps-packet-loss-image-20.png)](https://pandorafms.com/guides/public/uploads/images/gallery/2026-02/pfms-firts-steps-packet-loss-image-20.png)

Select the **Network management** component group and search for **Packet loss**:

[![pfms_firts_steps-packet_loss-image_30.png](https://pandorafms.com/guides/public/uploads/images/gallery/2026-02/scaled-1680-/pfms-firts-steps-packet-loss-image-30.png)](https://pandorafms.com/guides/public/uploads/images/gallery/2026-02/pfms-firts-steps-packet-loss-image-30.png)

<p class="callout warning">You must enter the IP address of the device to be monitored in the **Target IP** field before saving the new module.</p>

Go to the main agent view; initially, the module will be displayed as uninitialized in blue:

[![pfms_firts_steps-packet_loss-image_40.png](https://pandorafms.com/guides/public/uploads/images/gallery/2026-02/scaled-1680-/pfms-firts-steps-packet-loss-image-40.png)](https://pandorafms.com/guides/public/uploads/images/gallery/2026-02/pfms-firts-steps-packet-loss-image-40.png)

<p class="callout info">To speed up the process, you can force all checks (**Force checks** button) for the agent in question.</p>

The round icon is to force **only** the check of the new module:

<span style="font-weight: 400;">[![pfms_firts_steps-packet_loss-image_50.png](https://pandorafms.com/guides/public/uploads/images/gallery/2026-02/scaled-1680-/pfms-firts-steps-packet-loss-image-50.png)](https://pandorafms.com/guides/public/uploads/images/gallery/2026-02/pfms-firts-steps-packet-loss-image-50.png)</span>

Just to the left of the force module check button, we have the graph and data table icons respectively. These are used to display an interactive graph or a table with the data collected by that module. All modules with active history have the option to view graphs or data:

[![pfms_firts_steps-packet_loss-image_60.png](https://pandorafms.com/guides/public/uploads/images/gallery/2026-02/scaled-1680-/pfms-firts-steps-packet-loss-image-60.png)](https://pandorafms.com/guides/public/uploads/images/gallery/2026-02/pfms-firts-steps-packet-loss-image-60.png)

<p class="callout success"><span style="font-weight: 400;">This is a very interesting plugin; when used in conjunction with basic connectivity (ping) and latency time, it serves to determine the quality of your network, as it indicates the percentage of packet loss.</span></p>

<p class="callout info">Are you not achieving the results explained in this chapter? Access the [help](https://pandorafms.com/guides/public/books/first-steps-with-pandora-fms/page/21-where-to-look-if-problems-arise) or [support](https://pandorafms.com/guides/public/books/first-steps-with-pandora-fms/page/22-support) section.</p>