I love free stuff, so I can't wait to download the free OmniPeek Personal [1] software from WildPackets. The software is "the first commercially developed Expert network analyzer available free for personal use," WildPackets says. Go here [1] to download the software (Windows PC required).
Features of the software include wired and wireless analysis; real-time graphics and display; Visual Expert and Packet Visualizer toolsets; application analysis and Apdex scoring that reflects end-user satisfaction with applications, and support for custom plug-ins. WildPackets says users can troubleshoot network performance and security problems, view the "top talkers" on the network, change filters "on the fly" without having to stop and restart packet captures, and view packet-stream analytics by conversation pair to instantly locate network events, such as SQL queries or DoS attacks.
The software is a free version of the company's OmniPeek Analyzer, a portable network analyzer included in the OmniAnalysis Platform [2]. The software features an open API and SDK that lets users extend functionality of the product through custom plug-ins. Examples of plug-ins available now include a Google Maps plug-in that shows a map displaying the location of an IP device being analyzed; and a SQLFilter plug-in that lets users submit SQL queries to locate key data in packet captures. Other plug-ins are available at the WildPackets Developer Network [3].
Links:
[1] http://www.omnipeek.com/
[2] http://www.wildpackets.com/products/omni/overview
[3] http://wpdn.wildpackets.com/