# How to view network usage in Ubuntu using vnstat

Tue Aug 03 2021

Today I learned how to monitor and view my total network usage using vnstat (opens new window). This is what an example output would look like (where rx means received and tx means transmitted):

$ vnstat -m

 eth0  /  monthly

        month        rx      |     tx      |    total    |   avg. rate
     ------------------------+-------------+-------------+---------------
       2017-11       1.05 GB |     4.32 GB |     5.37 GB |   17.78 kbit/s
       2017-12     893.89 MB |     3.68 GB |     4.55 GB |   14.60 kbit/s
       2018-01       1.14 GB |     5.10 GB |     6.24 GB |   20.01 kbit/s
       2018-02       1.21 GB |     4.93 GB |     6.14 GB |   21.80 kbit/s
       2018-03       1.23 GB |     5.64 GB |     6.87 GB |   22.03 kbit/s
       2018-04       1.15 GB |     5.22 GB |     6.37 GB |   21.11 kbit/s
       2018-05       1.23 GB |     4.39 GB |     5.62 GB |   18.04 kbit/s
       2018-06       2.68 GB |     7.01 GB |     9.69 GB |   32.10 kbit/s
       2018-07       1.61 GB |     6.94 GB |     8.55 GB |   27.41 kbit/s
       2018-08       1.76 GB |     7.65 GB |     9.41 GB |   30.19 kbit/s
       2018-09       1.82 GB |     7.99 GB |     9.81 GB |   32.52 kbit/s
       2018-10       1.71 GB |     7.64 GB |     9.35 GB |   44.80 kbit/s
     ------------------------+-------------+-------------+---------------
     estimated       2.56 GB |    11.41 GB |    13.97 GB |

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This really great AskUbuntu answer (opens new window) explains how to install and use vnstat.