The list of features to choose from comprises of Wireshark (the actual application), TShark, Plug-ins and Extensions, Tools and the User Guide. Once you have downloaded the install kit for Wireshark, you will be prompted to choose whether you want the full array of features or only certain ones. The network analyzer has been created to account for almost all operating system, including Windows, Linux, Mac OS X and UNIX. Therefore, it is advisable that you turn them off and download the kit the old fashioned way. It is important to note that download accelerators can sometimes cause issues with the Wireshark. The Wireshark installation kit is relatively small, occupying only 18 MB. Since the application is part of an open-source project and there are several developers constantly updating and making their own changes to the coding, this review will refer strictly to the 1.6.1 version of the program. That being said, let us take a closer look at the reasons why Wireshark is such a must-have tool for any network administrator. In order to make full use of the features and be able to locate the exact package of data you are looking for, you will need to learn a thing or two about how to use the filters properly.

In essence, the application will allow you to scan all the incoming and outgoing traffic on a network for a wide array of protocols. Wireshark is an open-source project and it is the follow-up of the famous Ethereal technology. ' The Wireshark Network Protocol Analyzer'Īs the name suggests, Wireshark is a software utility designed for network analysis and management.

Instal the new Wireshark 4.0.10