Book Image

Learn Wireshark, - Second Edition

By : Lisa Bock
5 (1)
Book Image

Learn Wireshark, - Second Edition

5 (1)
By: Lisa Bock

Overview of this book

Wireshark is a popular and powerful packet analysis tool that helps network administrators investigate latency issues and potential attacks. Over the years, there have been many enhancements to Wireshark’s functionality. This book will guide you through essential features so you can capture, display, and filter data with ease. In addition to this, you’ll gain valuable tips on lesser-known configuration options, which will allow you to complete your analysis in an environment customized to suit your needs. This updated second edition of Learn Wireshark starts by outlining the benefits of traffic analysis. You’ll discover the process of installing Wireshark and become more familiar with the interface. Next, you’ll focus on the Internet Suite and then explore deep packet analysis of common protocols such as DNS, DHCP, HTTP, and ARP. The book also guides you through working with the expert system to detect network latency issues, create I/O and stream graphs, subset traffic, and save and export captures. Finally, you’ll understand how to share captures using CloudShark, a browser-based solution for analyzing packet captures. By the end of this Wireshark book, you’ll have the skills and hands-on experience you need to conduct deep packet analysis of common protocols and network troubleshooting as well as identify security issues.
Table of Contents (28 chapters)
1
Part 1 Traffic Capture Overview
6
Part 2 Getting Started with Wireshark
11
Part 3 The Internet Suite TCP/IP
16
Part 4 Deep Packet Analysis of Common Protocols
21
Part 5 Working with Packet Captures

Getting to know Wireshark

In the late 1990s, Gerald Combs needed a tool to analyze network problems. Portable sniffers were available at the time, but they were costly. Gerald developed Ethereal with the help of some friends, and this later became Wireshark. It has been around for over 20 years and continues to evolve and improve over time.

Wireshark's strength is the ability to decode the captured bits into a readable format by using decoders or dissectors.

Dissectors provide information on how to break down the protocols into the proper format according to the appropriate RFC, or other specifications.

Wireshark can decode hundreds of different protocols. New dissectors are periodically added to the library. In addition, you can decode proprietary and specialty protocols by developing your own dissector.

Wireshark is compatible with many other sniffers and has a wide range of file formats for importing and exporting. Some of the other features include the following:

  • Merge packet captures.
  • Provide a detailed analysis of VoIP traffic.
  • Create basic and advanced I/O graphs.

Wireshark can be installed on most OSes, including Windows, Solaris, Linux, and macOS.

After using Wireshark for any length of time, you can observe how it can help network administrators to understand traffic flows, troubleshoot performance problems, or conduct a network baseline.