What are some tools and techniques for monitoring and analyzing TCP/IP traffic?

1 Packet Sniffers

Packet sniffers are software or hardware devices that capture and decode the packets that travel across a network segment. They can show you the source and destination addresses, port numbers, protocol types, payload data, and other information of each packet. Packet sniffers can help you identify network problems, such as congestion, errors, misconfiguration, or malicious activity. Some examples of packet sniffers are Wireshark, tcpdump, and Nmap.

2 Network Analyzers

Network analyzers are software or hardware devices that measure and display the performance and characteristics of a network. They can provide you with statistics, graphs, charts, and reports on various aspects of the network, such as bandwidth, latency, throughput, jitter, packet loss, and quality of service. Network analyzers can help you optimize and improve your network efficiency, reliability, and security. Some examples of network analyzers are PRTG Network Monitor, SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor, and Cacti.

3 Ping and Traceroute

Ping and traceroute are command-line tools that test the connectivity and reachability of a network host or device. Ping sends a series of echo requests to a target host and measures the round-trip time and packet loss. Traceroute sends a series of packets with increasing time-to-live values and records the routers and hops along the path to the target host. Ping and traceroute can help you diagnose network issues, such as routing errors, firewall blocks, or network failures. To use ping and traceroute, you need to know the IP address or hostname of the target host.

4 Netstat and TCPView

Netstat and TCPView are command-line and graphical tools that display the status and details of the TCP/IP connections on your local or remote system. They can show you the local and remote addresses, port numbers, protocol types, state, and process name of each connection. Netstat and TCPView can help you monitor and manage your network connections, such as closing unwanted or suspicious connections, identifying open ports, or detecting malware. To use netstat and TCPView, you need to have administrative privileges on your system.

5 IP Scanners and Port Scanners

IP scanners and port scanners are software tools that scan a range of IP addresses or ports on a network and report the results. They can reveal the active hosts, devices, services, and vulnerabilities on a network. IP scanners and port scanners can help you discover and map your network topology, inventory your network assets, audit your network security, or perform penetration testing. Some examples of IP scanners and port scanners are Advanced IP Scanner, Angry IP Scanner, Nmap, and Zenmap.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?