Network traffic analyzer-an overview

A network traffic analyzer is an indispensable tool for any network administrator who wants to avoid disappointment occasioned by network failures. A good network traffic analyzer should be able to provide real time information on traffic usage. With this information, users can be advised on what to avoid during critical working hours to ensure that the bandwidth available enables smooth running of the business. In addition, to providing real-time information, a good traffic analyzer should be able to do the following:

• Identify user’s application, bandwidth consumption, I.p addresses, and protocols of users in the network.
•  Capturing the flow of traffic in network devices
• Map the traffic arriving from designated ports, and destination I.Ps.
• Give instant alert notifications incase of any anomaly
•  Generate traffic reports
• Facilitates for the investigation of performance, configuration, and fault within the network.
• Able to detect the network anomalies either through denial of service (D.o.S) or port attacks.

But why analyze traffic?

Traffic in a network is analyzed for the purpose of achieving the following goals:

• Have a comprehensive analysis of the network operation
•  Detect anomalies such as email spamming machines and self-decrypting exploit codes.
• Assist is program debugging
• To trouble shoot performance issues

Features of a traffic analyzer

Have you ever wondered how a traffic analyzer operates?

If no, traffic is analyzed using the following features:

• Detailed traffic analysis- This feature gives you an unprecedented view of the network traffic, enabling you to be proactively ensure that the network traffic is optimized. Detailed traffic analysis is possible through examining the flow of traffic on routers, and switches.

Techniques

Network traffic monitoring is an essential aspect of any network.  By definition, network traffic monitoring refers to the sum processes of capturing network traffic for the purpose of inspecting it, and analyzing what is taking place in a given network. Analysis of network traffic is important in order to effectively troubleshoot and resolve network issues whenever they arise. Analysis of network traffic is considered as a proactive approach. It prevents losses that are occasioned when there is a network failure or a security breach in the network.

Analysis techniques

This article will explain two techniques used for network traffic monitoring: The router based technique and the non-router based technique.

Router based monitoring technique

Router based Network traffic monitoring techniques are not flexible reason since they are hard-coded into routers. Some of the commonly used techniques used are:

• Simple network monitoring protocol (SNMP) RFC 1157- this technique allows administrators to manage a given network traffic by finding and solving network problems and also plan for the growth of the network. This is made possible by passive sensors gathering traffic statistics using passive sensors. Three components make up SNMP the agents, network management system and the managed devices.
• Remote monitoring (RMON) RFC 1757-RMON sets an alarm that monitors all the traffic based on a given criteria making it possible for administrators to manage remote sites and local networks from a central place. There are only two components of the RMON; the agent and the monitor.
• Net flow RFC 3954- it has the ability of collecting traffic as it enters an interface. It is made of three components: flow caching, data analyzer, and flow collector.

Non-router based techniques

There offer a more flexible network traffic monitoring technique. Non-router based techniques are either classified as either passive or active.

• Active techniques

Probes are monitored into the traffic so as to collect measurements between two endpoints in a network. Active measurement measures the following: availability, routes, packet delay, packet reordering, packet loss, and bandwidth measurement.

• Passive techniques

Passive network monitoring does not inject traffic or modify the traffic present in the network. In addition, unlike active monitoring, it only collects information on one path being measured rather than two endpoints. Passive monitoring deals with the following information: protocol mixes, packet rates and inter-arrival timing. Passive monitoring is the preferred network traffic monitoring technique has it does not have overhead data associated with active monitoring.

Network Traffic Monitoring

Every network administrator knows that it is important to keep your network’s traffic flowing.

This is where network traffic monitoring comes in.

A network traffic monitoring is a system used for tracking down and monitoring all the activity that is going around your network. It acts as a spy around your system so that you are aware if the other computers are performing all their vital functions. Apart from this, it alerts you whenever one of your computers are having problems such as virus, network connection failure, or power outages.

Network traffic monitoring must be done on a computer or a system that has a dedicated power line. This is because a network monitor plays a critical role in your network. It inform the administer if the other computers are experiencing malfunction and system failures.

Network monitoring is usually done by sending a test to the other computers. For instance, a “ping” will be sent to computer A. If computer A does not respond, the network monitoring system would then send a signal or alert to the administrator notifying that computer A is having troubles.

There are also network monitor systems that monitors by taking snapshots of the network’s workflow. This way, the administrator would know if the other computers are experiencing irregularities.