Standard PingPlotter writes settings to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PingPlotter. The portable version stores everything in a .config file inside the same folder as the .exe. This means you can:
The PingPlotter features portable list goes beyond basic pings. Here are the high-value functions available without installation:
For IT consultants who work across multiple desks, PingPlotter’s licensing system is relatively generous. A single Pro license allows installation on up to 3 machines owned by the same user. You can deactivate an old machine via the user portal. While not "plug-and-play" portable, it allows you to keep a copy on your work laptop, home PC, and a field technician’s tablet without buying three licenses.
The most advanced feature is PingPlotter Cloud. Instead of saving files locally, you can send your trace data to a cloud server. This allows you to generate shareable, public links to your results—perfect for sending a graph to a support technician at Level 3 Communications without attaching a large log file.
Deploy PingPlotter Portable on technician USB drives and store a master copy in your IT toolkit repository. Include a pre-configured
settings.xmlwith common targets (gateway, DNS, cloud endpoints) to reduce on-site configuration time.
End of Report
Report generated by [Your Name/Department] – For internal use or client distribution.
PingPlotter can be run in a "portable" mode from a USB drive or removable media without a standard installation on the host machine pingplotter features portable
. This mode is primarily intended for administrators troubleshooting multiple PCs without modifying system registries or needing to enter license keys on every device. PingPlotter Key Features of Portable Mode Zero Installation
: Runs directly from a removable drive, making no changes to the host machine's "Program Files" or system registry. Self-Contained Licensing : The license key is stored in a license.dat
file on the USB drive itself, allowing the application to remain activated as you move between computers. Localized Settings
: All application settings and configurations are written to an
file within the same directory as the executable on the USB drive. Full Diagnostic Capabilities
: Retains core graphical monitoring features, including latency tracking, packet loss visualization, and jitter analysis (if using the Pro edition). PingPlotter Limitations of Portable/USB Mode Impact in Portable Mode Windows Service Cannot be installed as a background service. File Associations
files will not be automatically tied to the application on the host. Write Permissions Deploy PingPlotter Portable on technician USB drives and
The USB drive must be writable to save logs and configuration data. User Profile
Does not check the host's user profile for override settings. Setup Instructions Install Normally : First, install PingPlotter on your primary computer's hard drive. Copy Directory
: Copy the entire PingPlotter installation folder to your USB drive. Create License File : In the USB folder, create an empty text file named license.dat in the same directory as PingPlotter.exe
: Launch the application from the USB drive and enter your license key when prompted; it will save to the Uninstall from Host
: You can now uninstall the software from your main hard drive. PingPlotter Product Edition Comparison
While all editions can technically be made portable via the manual method above, their core capabilities vary:
: One target at a time; basic latency and packet loss metrics. End of Report Report generated by [Your Name/Department]
: Up to two targets; includes UDP/TCP packet types on Windows. Professional
: Hundreds of simultaneous targets; adds jitter and MOS metrics, plus advanced reporting. PingPlotter step-by-step guide for configuring specific alerts while running from a USB? Purchasing - PingPlotter
One of the biggest drawbacks of many portable apps is that they "forget" your preferences when you move computers. PingPlotter solves this by saving configuration data locally within the same folder as the executable.
PingPlotter is a proprietary network diagnostic tool that combines elements of ping, traceroute, and continuous latency graphing. While primarily installed as a standard application, its portable version (PingPlotter Portable) offers significant advantages for professionals requiring zero-install, low-footprint, and removable-media operation.
This report details the core portable features, their technical benefits, and practical use cases.
Surprisingly, the portable version supports alerts. You can set thresholds (e.g., "Alert me if latency exceeds 150ms for 3 samples" or "Alert if packet loss > 5%"). When triggered, PingPlotter can:
This means you can deploy PingPlotter features portable in a headless monitoring mode, then shut it down without install/uninstall cycles.