Sniffer Technologies Investigator

To collect data, you simply select the Capture option, tell it when to stop and save the data to a local file. The PC (post-capture) menu then allows you to analyse the capture buffer at your leisure. From here, you can view statistics, a host table, protocol distribution charts or select a Matrix view.

An Expert mode analyses captured data, builds a database of all devices it sees and warns of any potential problems. As with the Investigator, you can create triggers for automatic packet capture if certain thresholds are breached or error conditions are spotted.

Network-analysis tools have a reputation for being complex and costly, but both Investigator and Portable WPO show this doesn't need to be the case. True, the bulk of the asking price is for the software, but both products offer a range of good tools for general network analysis and packet capturing and decoding. Overall, the Investigator is a cost-effective solution that's ready to go straight from the box and is ideally suited to the small to medium business, while support staff looking after wireless networks will find the Portable WPO an invaluable ally.

Author: Dave Mitchell