Managed switches - These switches have one or more methods to modify the operation of the switch.

This type of switches are not suitable for network analysis. They are typically the least expensive switches, found in home, SOHO, or small businesses.

Unmanaged switches - These switches have no configuration interface or options.

The availability of low-priced network switches has largely rendered hubs obsolete but they are still seen in older installations and more specialized applications. Hubs do not manage any of the traffic that comes through them, and any packet entering any port is regenerated and broadcast out on all other ports.

HUB - A network hub is a fairly unsophisticated broadcast device.

However, these cost much more than a hub or an unmanaged switch. Managed switches can be configured to allow one port to listen in on traffic from another ports. Connecting the protocol analyzer to a hub allows it to see all the traffic on the segment.

Ī protocol analyzer connected to a switch does not always receive all the desired packets since the switch separates the ports into different segments. Wireshark is freeware and can be downloaded from. As data streams flow across the network, the sniffer captures each packet and eventually decodes and analyzes its content according. Wireshark (formerly known as Ethereal) is a packet analyzer (also known as Ethernet sniffer) that can intercept and log traffic passing over the ethernet port.

In order to capture data you need the following equipment: This article describes how to use the PC program Wireshark to capture data from the ethernet port of the AlphaCom. Sometimes it is useful for debugging purposes to analyse the data on the IP network.

How to start wireshark capture