Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!decwrl!sdd.hp.com!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!usc!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!ames!uhccux!virtue!comp.vuw.ac.nz!munnari.oz.au!bruce!trlluna!shiva!hayes
From: hayes@shiva.trl.oz (Mark Hayes)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.lans
Subject: LAN Analyzers?
Keywords: LAN, analyzer
Message-ID: <1955@trlluna.trl.oz>
Date: 26 Jul 90 08:05:22 GMT
Sender: root@trlluna.trl.oz
Distribution: comp
Lines: 32

I know this has been discussed (many times?) before, but here goes.
Can someone supply me with a comparison of the various LAN Analyzers
which are available.  We are interested in purchasing such a device
for low level (MAC, LLC) performance measurements more than higher
layer (TCP/IP) debugging.  There also seems to be a few new machines
appearing such as from Siemens, Wandel & Goltermann, etc.

I would think that many people who have been through this exercise
would have this info filed away, and if they could email/post it I
would appreciate it. 

We are interested in features such as:
	
Traffic generation: max. loading, ability to specify contents of whole
	packet, ability to mix packet lengths, ability to received and
	process packets while generating traffic.  

Data capture: max. capture rate to buffer and disk, storage/buffer
	size, capture of whole packet, timestamp resolution.
	
LANs supported: eg. Ethernet/802.3, Token Ring, StarLAN, etc.

Other features: eg. triggering, capture of short/runt packets and
	collision fragments, filtering facilities for data capture
	processing, frame numbering/sequencing, programmability(?).


Thanks in advance,
mdh
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Mark Hayes					Research Labs,
m.hayes@trl.oz.au				Telecom Australia