Migrating from PRTG to WhatsUp Gold: The Ultimate Guide

Step 1: Inventory Your Credentials

In PRTG, credentials are inherited from groups and can be overridden if needed. In WhatsUp Gold, each device uses its own specific credentials for each credential type. Once you have gathered all your credentials from  PRTG and unraveling any inheritance woes, you simply add each one to WhatsUp Gold’s credential library. Credentials in WhatsUp Gold can then be used during discovery scans and the appropriate credentials are automatically assigned with the appropriate devices. By providing credentials at the time of discovery, WhatsUp Gold can identify the device and associate the appropriate monitors.

Tip: Add all your credentials to WhatsUp Gold Credential Library before running your first discovery scan.

Step 2: Discover & Monitor Your IP Addresses

API/Scripting approach

I didn’t want to copy/paste via the PRTG UI, as I found it messy. I discovered there was an unofficial PRTG PowerShell module for working with the PRTG API. I used the WhatsUp Gold PowerShell module, WhatsUpGoldPS, to populate the list of IP addresses & pass it over to my WhatsUp Gold server simply by running a command 😊

# ---- Config ----
$PrtgServer = '192.168.74.104'
$WugServer  = '192.168.74.74'
$WugProtocol = 'https'
$IgnoreSslErrors = $true  # set $false if you want strict SSL

# ---- Install modules if required & import them
try {
    if (-not (Get-Module -ListAvailable -Name 'PrtgAPI')) {Install-Module PrtgAPI -Scope CurrentUser -Force -AllowClobber}
    Import-Module PrtgAPI -ErrorAction Stop
    if (-not (Get-Module -ListAvailable -Name 'WhatsUpGoldPS')) {Install-Module WhatsUpGoldPS -Scope CurrentUser -Force -AllowClobber}
    Import-Module WhatsUpGoldPS -ErrorAction Stop
}
catch {
    throw "Module install/import failed: $($_.Exception.Message)"
}

# ---- Credentials ----
if (-not $PRTGCred) { $PRTGCred = Get-Credential -Message "Enter PRTG username and password" }
if (-not $WUGCred)  { $WUGCred  = Get-Credential -Message "Enter WhatsUp Gold username and password" }

# ---- Connect to PRTG and collect IPs/Hostnames ----
try {
    if ($IgnoreSslErrors) {
        Connect-PrtgServer -Server $PrtgServer -Credential $PRTGCred -IgnoreSSL -Force | Out-Null
    } else {
        Connect-PrtgServer -Server $PrtgServer -Credential $PRTGCred -Force | Out-Null
    }

    $devices = Get-Device
    if (-not $devices) { throw "No devices returned from PRTG." }

    $ipList = $devices |
        Where-Object { $_.Host -and $_.Host.Trim() } |
        ForEach-Object { $_.Host.Trim() } |
        Sort-Object -Unique

    if (-not $ipList -or $ipList.Count -eq 0) { throw "No usable Host values found on PRTG devices." }
}
catch {
    throw "PRTG step failed: $($_.Exception.Message)"
}

# ---- Connect to WhatsUp Gold and add devices ----
try {
    if ($IgnoreSslErrors) {
        Connect-WUGServer -serverUri $WugServer -Protocol $WugProtocol -IgnoreSSLErrors -Credential $WUGCred | Out-Null
    } else {
        Connect-WUGServer -serverUri $WugServer -Protocol $WugProtocol -Credential $WUGCred | Out-Null
    }

    Add-WUGDevice -IpOrName $ipList
    Write-Host "Added/submitted $($ipList.Count) targets to WhatsUp Gold."
}
catch {
    throw "WUG step failed: $($_.Exception.Message)"
} 

PRTG to WhatsUp Gold Terminology Translation Table

PRTG vs WhatsUp Gold: Key Differentiators

WhatsUp Gold vs PRTG: Core Capabilities

Why Teams Are Switching

• Simplified Licensing: WhatsUp Gold uses device-based licensing, avoiding the complexity of sensor counts.
• Unified Platform: Combines Network Performance Monitoring, Application Monitoring, and NDR in one solution.
• Ease of Use: Intuitive, lightning-fast UI and quicker deployment compared to PRTG’s configuration-heavy setup.
• Poor reporting experience: You shouldn’t have to wait to report on your network. How can you show your boss how good your network is when you can’t show them a report instantly?
• Scalability: Enterprise Plus edition supports large, distributed environments without additional costs and less administration overhead.

What IT Pros Say About PRTG vs WhatsUp Gold

• PRTG Pain Points: Sensor-based licensing complexity, slow reporting, UI frustrations.
• WhatsUp Gold Strengths: Faster deployment, intuitive dashboards, cost-effective licensing, integrated security features.

Considering other tools? Here’s why WhatsUp Gold stands out

Are you considering other tools like SolarWinds, Nagios, Zabbix, NetCrunch?

WhatsUp Gold offers:

• Simpler migration paths with automated discovery and credential management.
• Unified platform for network, application, and security monitoring.
• Device-based licensing for predictable costs.

Pricing & Licensing Overview

WhatsUp Gold Editions Explained

• Enterprise Plus (Subscription): Includes all add-ons (Configuration Management, NTA, Virtualization Monitoring, Application Monitoring, Log Management). Best for large or hybrid environments.
• Enterprise (Subscription): Core monitoring features, scalable for mid-sized environments.
• Premium (Perpetual): Base edition; add-ons required for advanced features.
• Total Plus (Perpetual): All-in-one perpetual license with nearly all features included.

Why Enterprise Plus for Migration?

• Simplifies licensing (no add-on complexity).
• Includes advanced features like NTA+, Configuration Management, and NDR
• Scales easily for distributed, highly available environments.

Final Thoughts

Migrating from PRTG to WhatsUp Gold is an opportunity to modernize your monitoring strategy. By following these steps, you’ll gain better visibility, streamlined workflows, and a platform designed for today’s hybrid IT environments.

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FAQs

Does WhatsUp Gold support hybrid environments?

Yes, it provides visibility across on-premises, cloud, and distributed networks.

How does device-based licensing work?

You pay per device, not per sensor. For example, you can monitor thousands of metrics per device without extra cost.

Can I integrate with ticketing systems?

Yes, WhatsUp Gold supports third-party ticketing integrations.

Is there a free evaluation or free edition?

Yes, via WhatsUp Gold 360 cloud portal (browser-based). Enterprise and Enterprise Plus subscriptions include WhatsUp Gold 360 access.