Community
- Command Central
- MVP Program
- Monthly Mission
- Blogs
- Groups
- Events
- Media Vault
Products
- Observability
- Network Management
- Application Management
- IT Security
- IT Service Management
- System Management
- Database Management
Content Exchange
- SolarWinds Platform
- Server & Application Monitor
- Database Performance Analyzer
- Server Configuration Monitor
- Network Performance Monitor
- Network Configuration Manager
- SQL Sentry
- Web Help Desk
Free Tools & Trials
Store

Recommendations on a packet capture analyzer software?

I figured this would be a good group to ask this question. We use Orion Netflow monitor to gather the general application/endpoint data. The problem is it doesn't provide in depth analysis when troubleshooting something like poor application performance across a WAN. Is it network latency? Is it a poorly written application? Is it the backend db? We previously had a software package by Opnet called ACE which could take in packet captures from things like Wireshark and provide you with an in-depth analysis of where the "slowdown" most likely is occurring.

My question is if anyone knows of another tool that is cheap and provides the in-depth network analysis that Orion Netflow doesn't. Opnet ACE was a pretty expensive tool to keep around and we don't require this in-depth analysis too often...but when we do we all know that the network is the first area to blame.

Thanks in advance for any advice!

Find more posts tagged with

Accepted answers

All comments

jswan

My first recommendation would be to get really good at Wireshark. You can do a LOT of stuff with Wireshark, and you can even do it pretty efficiently if you spend enough time learning it. Laura Chappell's new book on Wireshark is a great place to start.

BryanBecker

We use Network Observer from Network Instruments.....good product....I know OPNET is very $$$.

ecklerwr1

Brian-

Sounds to me like you already know about packet capture with various things like tcpdump, snoop, wireshark etc. I think the big question is what kinds of software can make sense of all the data in a capture. Like you mentioned ACE. Also Network General always had their expert analyzer. I would be interested in hearing if anyone has found something open source that is currently being updated / developed that would do something with wireshark captures, analyze them, and then produce some kind of meaningful data. Maybe this is wishful thinking :}

brian_duvall

Thanks everyone for the feedback...always appreciated!

FormerMember

Take a look at the Netscout Sniffer/Analysis offerings

davidoum

I've used and like very much CACE Pilot. There's a 10 day trial version that you can download. Here's the link: http://www.cacetech.com/products/cace_pilot.html .