Protocol Analyser

A Protocol Analyser is an invaluable piece of software that takes the strain out of managing a network. Using an easy to use interface you can 'see' where your packets are going... and where they're not. Using features such as top-talker, a Protocol Analyser will tell you who or what is using up valuable network resources, when, where and why.

Protocol Analysers capture conversations between two or more systems or devices. A Protocol Analyser not only captures the traffic, it also decodes (interprets) the traffic. Decoding allows you to view the conversation in English, as opposed to binary language. A sophisticated Protocol Analyser will also provide statistics and trend information on the captured traffic. Protocol Analysers provide information about the traffic flow on your LAN/WAN, from which you can view device-specific information. Unlike SNMP-based management consoles, Protocol Analysers are device independent.

Powerful Multi-Platform Analysis

Wireshark is used by network professionals around the world for troubleshooting, analysis, software and protocol development, and education. It has all of the standard features you would expect in a protocol analyzer, and several features not seen in any other product. Its open source license allows talented experts in the networking community to add enhancements. It runs on all popular computing platforms, including Unix, Linux, and Windows.

Free Downloads: (Current Stable Releases)
Windows | Windows Installer (32-bit) | Windows Installer (64-bit) | Windows U3 | Windows PortableApps
Mac | OS X 10.5 (Leopard) Intel .dmg | OS X 10.5 (Leopard) PPC .dmg | Source Code

Complete list of available Wireshark downloads

How Protocol Analysers are Useful

A Protocol Analyser is a tool that shows you exactly what is happening on your LAN. Once a problem is isolated and recorded, there can be no denying which vendor, or which system is the cause.

For example, if your TCP/IP sessions are "hanging", a Protocol Analyser can show which system sent the last packet, and which system failed to respond. If you are experiencing slow screen updates, a Protocol Analyser can display delta time stamps and show which system is waiting for packets, and which system is slow to respond.

In an NT environment, a Protocol Analyser can show runaway traffic (broadcast or multicast storms) and its origin, system errors and retries, and whether a station is sending, trying to send, or only seeming to communicate. You will get information that is otherwise unavailable, which results in more efficient troubleshooting and better LAN health.

Protocol Analyser, The Very First Ethernet