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tcpdump vs. wireshark

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jerome

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Nov 28, 2009, 11:27:14 AM11/28/09
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Is it possible to use tcpdump for gathering info on a wireless
connection, or is it necessary to use wireshark?

I ask because I am using TCP/IP Illustrated Vol. 1 as a companion text
to relearning basic networking and all of the examples use tcpdump but
I am interested in gathering info using a Linux netbook typically on a
wireless connection.

Jorgen Grahn

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Nov 28, 2009, 1:46:10 PM11/28/09
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On Sat, 2009-11-28, jerome wrote:
> Is it possible to use tcpdump for gathering info on a wireless
> connection, or is it necessary to use wireshark?

They both use libpcap, so either both work or neither do. Based on the
tcpdump man page, I expect them to work.

/Jorgen

--
// Jorgen Grahn <grahn@ Oo o. . .
\X/ snipabacken.se> O o .

Rick Jones

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Nov 30, 2009, 1:38:41 PM11/30/09
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Jorgen Grahn <grahn...@snipabacken.se> wrote:
> On Sat, 2009-11-28, jerome wrote:
> > Is it possible to use tcpdump for gathering info on a wireless
> > connection, or is it necessary to use wireshark?

> They both use libpcap, so either both work or neither do. Based on
> the tcpdump man page, I expect them to work.

Expanding on that, it helps to think of gathering information on
network traffic as being in two parts - collection, and
display/analysis. Think of them as "layers" if you like. The libpcap
mentioned is a library employed by both tcpdump and wireshark (and
perhaps other tools as well) to perform packet capture. Tcpdump and
wireshark then have other code to do the display/analysis.

Some display/analysis tools can post-process several capture formats
in addition to that produced by libpcap - for example, I believe that
wireshark or ethereal can process nettl traces from HP-UX.

rick jones

exploration of the similarities between this and "Shimmer" (Saturday
Night Live sketch about something that was both a floor wax and a
dessert topping...) is left as an exercise to the reader

--
I don't interest myself in "why." I think more often in terms of
"when," sometimes "where;" always "how much." - Joubert
these opinions are mine, all mine; HP might not want them anyway... :)
feel free to post, OR email to rick.jones2 in hp.com but NOT BOTH...

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