Wireshark is a powerful tool for network support technicians who are trying to troubleshoot connectivity issues and optimize network performance. In this series, we have covered a number of features in Wireshark that can be particularly useful for troubleshooting network issues, including:
- “Follow TCP Stream”
- “Decode As”
- “IO Graphs”
- “Expert Infos”
- “Time Sequence Graph (tcptrace)”
- “Conversation Filter”
- “Graphical Time Sequence (grep)”
- “Statistics”
In the following summary, we will provide a brief overview of each of these features and how they can be used to troubleshoot network issues.
- “Follow TCP Stream” allows you to see all of the packets in a particular TCP stream in a single window, making it easier to understand the conversation between two devices.
- “Decode As” allows you to change the way that Wireshark decodes and displays a particular protocol, which can be useful when the default decoding is not correct or when you want to see more detailed information about the protocol.
- “IO Graphs” allows you to create graphs of packet and byte rates over time, which can help you identify trends and patterns in network traffic.
- “Expert Infos” displays alerts and warnings about potential problems with the packets being captured, such as retransmissions or out-of-order packets.
- “Time Sequence Graph (tcptrace)” displays a graph of TCP packet sequence numbers over time, which can help you identify problems with the TCP connection.
- “Conversation Filter” allows you to filter the packets being displayed based on their source and destination addresses, which can be useful when you are trying to focus on a specific conversation.
- “Graphical Time Sequence (grep)” displays a graph of packet transmission times over time, which can help you identify trends and patterns in network traffic.
- “Statistics” provides a wide range of statistical information about the packets being captured, including “Protocol Hierarchy,” “Endpoints,” “IO Graphs,” “Conversations,” “Flow Graph,” “TCP Stream Graphs,” and “HTTP.”
- “Protocol Hierarchy” displays a graphical representation of the protocols being used on your network, with the most frequently used protocols at the top. It is useful for identifying potential problems with your network.
Overall, Wireshark is a powerful tool that can be used to troubleshoot a wide range of network connectivity issues. By using the features discussed in this series, network support technicians can quickly and effectively identify and resolve problems with their networks, improving overall performance and reliability. Whether you are a seasoned network support professional or just starting out, learning how to use Wireshark is a valuable skill that can help you troubleshoot and optimize your network.