I enjoy seeing those MRTG/RRDtool graphs everywhere. I find it so surreal that $X Billions in infrastructure, that is forwarding $Y Billion of internet traffic. All monitored by a single tool created by one guy from Switzerland.
Since this is HN: yes I realize that there has been substantial work subsequently, and that cacti/munin/nagios etc.. are more commonly used.
quote from the author, "rancid is named rancid because it stinks." it covers 80% of what you want it to do, but is indispensable because it is so lightweight and functional.
more developed tools exist but networks are not interested (by in large) in integrating/developing new ones because they fool themselves into thinking these are good enough.
Since this is HN: yes I realize that there has been substantial work subsequently, and that cacti/munin/nagios etc.. are more commonly used.