PPP protocol analyzer ?

[James Kovaly]

Does anyone know of a protocol analyzer that can be used on a
dialup ASYNC PPP connection that will decode the PPP data
including PAP, CHAP, LCP, NCP and IP w/VJ header compression ?

I am having problems getting Windows NT 3.51 RAS to connect to
a US robotics netserver/16 and the NGC Sniffer that I have cannot monitor an
ASYNC type line...

Thanks,

------------------------------------------------------------
jko...@mindspring.com
James Kovaly
Network Design Engineer
Bellsouth Cellular
------------------------------------------------------------

[PK]

Good hardware-based "Sniffer"-type solutions are available from
Wandel&Golterman (Domino WAN ~$10K 703-759-6580) and
DigiLog (WANVista Plus $6K-$10K range 215-830-9400)
HOWEVER, they currently can't decode a packet that has VJ header
compression, and the W&G didn't decode IPCP. They both are promising
upgrades "soon" to handle VJ compression. I suggest getting a test drive
on any unit before plunking down your $$ on _any_ protocol analyzer.

Supposedly, General Dynamics Sniffer will have upgrade soon
to async PPP, as will Hewlett Packard's "Internet Advisor".
Lots of WAN analyzers decode PPP, but, as you have found, very few can
do it on an async connection (such as between your PC and your modem).
They primarily target the router-to-router WAN analysis market which
usually runs sync traffic. Go figure...

hope this helps :-)

[Patrick Klos]

In article <jkovaly.2...@mindspring.com>,

James Kovaly <jko...@mindspring.com> wrote:
>Does anyone know of a protocol analyzer that can be used on a
>dialup ASYNC PPP connection that will decode the PPP data
>including PAP, CHAP, LCP, NCP and IP w/VJ header compression ?
>
>I am having problems getting Windows NT 3.51 RAS to connect to
>a US robotics netserver/16 and the NGC Sniffer that I have cannot monitor an
>ASYNC type line...
>
>Thanks,
>
>------------------------------------------------------------
>jko...@mindspring.com
>James Kovaly
>Network Design Engineer
>Bellsouth Cellular
>------------------------------------------------------------

We have just the tool you're looking for! Our product is called SerialView,
it runs on a standard PC with 2 serial ports, and costs only $399. SerialView
comes with a special cable and allows you to monitor both sides of a SLIP or
PPP session. It can decode everything you ask for, and then some, including
IPCP, IPXCP, NBFCP, ATCP, CIPX, (then move up to) TCP/UDP/IP, SNMP, IPX/SPX/
NCP, and more. We can FAX you some info about SerialView if you like (just
send me your number). Feel free to call or email if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Patrick Klos
--
============================================================================
Patrick Klos Internet: kl...@klos.com
Klos Technologies, Inc. Voice: (603) 424-8300
604 Daniel Webster Highway FAX: (603) 424-9300
Merrimack, New Hampshire 03054 BBS: (603) 429-0032
============================================================================