Best Packet Analyzers in Africa

Paessler PRTG is an all-inclusive monitoring solution with an intuitive, user-friendly interface powered by a cutting-edge monitoring engine. It optimizes connections and workloads, reduces operational costs, and prevents outages. It also saves time and controls service level agreements (SLAs). This solution includes specialized monitoring features such as flexible alerting, cluster failover, distributed monitoring, maps, dashboards, and in-depth reporting.

Utilize Telerik Fiddler HTTP(S) proxy to capture all internet traffic between your computer and external sites, allowing you to analyze that traffic, set breakpoints, and manipulate both requests and responses. Fiddler Everywhere serves as a versatile web debugging proxy compatible with macOS, Windows, and Linux platforms. You can capture, inspect, and monitor all HTTP(S) communication, facilitating the mocking of requests and troubleshooting of network problems. This tool is applicable to any browser or application, enabling you to debug traffic across macOS, Windows, Linux, and mobile devices running iOS or Android. It guarantees that the necessary cookies, headers, and cache settings are properly exchanged between client and server. Supporting diverse frameworks such as .NET, Java, and Ruby, Fiddler Everywhere empowers you to mock or alter requests and responses on any website efficiently. This straightforward approach allows for testing website functionality without the need for code alterations. By employing Fiddler Everywhere, you can effectively log and analyze all HTTP/S traffic between your system and the wider internet, streamlining your debugging process.

Snort stands as the leading Open Source Intrusion Prevention System (IPS) globally. This IPS utilizes a collection of rules designed to identify harmful network behavior, matching incoming packets against these criteria to issue alerts to users. Additionally, Snort can be configured to operate inline, effectively blocking these malicious packets. Its functionality is versatile, serving three main purposes: it can act as a packet sniffer similar to tcpdump, function as a packet logger that assists in troubleshooting network traffic, or serve as a comprehensive network intrusion prevention system. Available for download and suitable for both personal and commercial use, Snort requires configuration upon installation. After this setup, users gain access to two distinct sets of Snort rules: the "Community Ruleset" and the "Snort Subscriber Ruleset." The latter, created, tested, and validated by Cisco Talos, offers subscribers real-time updates of the ruleset as they become available to Cisco clients. In this way, users can stay ahead of emerging threats and ensure their network remains secure.

Tcpdump serves as a robust command-line tool for analyzing network packets, enabling users to view the details of packets sent or received over the network their computer is connected to. Compatible with a variety of Unix-like operating systems such as Linux, Solaris, FreeBSD, NetBSD, OpenBSD, and macOS, it leverages the libpcap library for capturing network traffic effectively. This utility can process packets either directly from a network interface card or from a previously recorded packet file, and it offers the flexibility to direct output to either standard output or a file. Users have the option to apply BPF-based filters to manage the volume of packets being analyzed, making it particularly useful in environments experiencing heavy network traffic. Tcpdump is distributed as free software under the BSD license, which promotes accessibility. Moreover, it is often included as a native package or port in numerous operating systems, making updates and ongoing maintenance straightforward for users. This ease of use contributes to its popularity among network administrators and analysts alike.

NetworkMiner, an open-source tool for network forensics, extracts artifacts like files, images, emails and passwords, from captured network traffic stored in PCAP files. It can also capture real-time network traffic by sniffing the network interface. The analyzed network traffic contains detailed information about each IP. This can be used to discover passive assets and get a better overview of communicating devices. NetworkMiner was designed to run primarily on Windows, but it can also be used with Linux. Since its 2007 release, it has become a favorite tool among incident response teams, law enforcement agencies and companies and organizations around the world.

Sniffnet is a network monitoring application crafted to assist users in effortlessly tracking their Internet traffic. It not only collects statistics but also delves into detailed network activities, offering extensive monitoring capabilities. The tool prioritizes user-friendliness, making it more accessible than many traditional network analyzers. Available as a completely free and open-source solution, Sniffnet is dual-licensed under MIT or Apache-2.0, with its full source code hosted on GitHub. Built entirely with Rust, this modern programming language enhances the software's efficiency and reliability while prioritizing performance and security. Among its standout features are the ability to choose a network adapter for analysis, implement filters on monitored traffic, observe overall statistics and live charts of Internet activity, export detailed capture reports in PCAP format, and identify over 6,000 upper-layer services, protocols, trojans, and worms. Additionally, it allows users to uncover domain names and ASNs of hosts, as well as trace connections within the local network, making it a versatile tool for network oversight.

EtherApe is a network monitoring tool for Unix systems that visually represents network traffic, inspired by Etherman, with hosts and connections dynamically changing size based on the amount of traffic and utilizing color coding for different protocols. It accommodates a variety of devices, such as FDDI, ISDN, PPP, SLIP, and WLAN, and supports multiple encapsulation methods. Users have the option to filter the traffic they see and can capture data in real-time or extract it from a file. Additionally, statistics for each node can be exported for further examination. The software features modes for link layer, IP, and TCP, enabling users to concentrate on particular levels of the protocol stack. Each node and link is displayed with comprehensive details, including a breakdown of protocols and traffic metrics. Released under the GNU General Public License, EtherApe is open source. A unique aspect of the interface allows a single node to be focused on while multiple selected nodes can be organized in a circular arrangement, complemented by an alternative display mode that aligns nodes in vertical columns. This versatility makes EtherApe a powerful tool for network analysis and visualization.

WinDump serves as the Windows adaptation of tcpdump, a powerful command line network analysis tool originally designed for UNIX systems. It is entirely compatible with tcpdump, allowing users to monitor, troubleshoot, and save network traffic to disk based on a variety of intricate rules. This tool can be executed on various Windows operating systems including 95, 98, ME, NT, 2000, XP, 2003, and Vista. Utilizing the WinPcap library and drivers, which are available for free from the WinPcap website, WinDump captures network traffic effectively. WinDump also facilitates wireless capture and troubleshooting for 802.11b/g networks when paired with the Riverbed AirPcap adapter. It is distributed at no cost under a BSD-style license and has the ability to utilize the interfaces made available by WinPcap. Additionally, WinDump can operate across all operating systems that are compatible with WinPcap, marking its role as a direct port of tcpdump. Users can initiate multiple sessions either on the same network adapter or across different adapters; while doing so may increase CPU usage, there are no significant disadvantages to running multiple instances simultaneously. This flexibility makes WinDump a valuable tool for network administrators and engineers alike.

Network Performance Monitor (NPM), by SolarWinds, provides advanced network troubleshooting using critical path hops-by-hop analysis for hybrid, on-premises, and cloud services. This modern network monitoring software is powerful and affordable. It allows IT organizations to quickly identify, diagnose, and fix network outages and problems, improving their network performance. SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor features include a performance analysis dashboard, NetPath critical paths visualization, intelligent alerts, multi-vendor network monitoring and Network Insights for Cisco ASA.

Wireshark stands as the leading and most widely utilized network protocol analyzer in the world. This tool allows users to observe the intricate details of their network activity and has become the standard reference point for various sectors, including commercial enterprises, non-profit organizations, government bodies, and academic institutions. The continued advancement of Wireshark is fueled by the voluntary efforts of networking specialists from around the world, originating from a project initiated by Gerald Combs in 1998. As a network protocol analyzer, Wireshark enables users to capture and explore the traffic traversing a computer network interactively. Known for its extensive and powerful capabilities, it is the most favored tool of its type globally. It operates seamlessly across a range of platforms, including Windows, macOS, Linux, and UNIX. Regularly employed by network professionals, security analysts, developers, and educators worldwide, it is accessible without cost as an open-source application and is distributed under the GNU General Public License version 2. Additionally, its community-driven development model ensures that it remains up-to-date with the latest networking technologies and trends.

Utilize Network Watcher to monitor and troubleshoot networking problems without needing to log into your virtual machines (VMs). You can initiate packet capturing through alerts, which allows you to access real-time performance metrics at the packet level. When a problem arises, you have the capability to conduct a thorough investigation for more accurate diagnostics. Enhance your comprehension of network traffic patterns by analyzing network security group flow logs and virtual network flow logs. The insights gained from these flow logs assist in collecting data for compliance purposes, auditing, and maintaining an overview of your network security posture. Additionally, Network Watcher equips you with the tools to diagnose common issues related to VPN gateways and connections, enabling you not only to pinpoint the problem but also to leverage the detailed logs generated for further analysis and resolution. This ensures that your network remains secure and efficiently managed.

Arkime is an open-source system for large-scale packet capturing, indexing, and database management, aimed at enhancing current security frameworks by archiving and indexing network traffic in the widely-used PCAP format. This tool provides comprehensive network visibility, which aids in the rapid detection and resolution of both security and network-related challenges. By offering access to crucial network data, security teams can effectively respond to and investigate incidents, allowing them to uncover the full extent of an attack. Arkime is engineered to operate across multiple clustered systems, enabling scalability to handle data transfer rates of hundreds of gigabits per second. This capability equips security analysts with the tools needed to respond to, reconstruct, investigate, and verify details regarding threats present in the network, ensuring timely and accurate responses. As a platform built on open-source principles, Arkime offers transparency, affordability, adaptability, and robust community backing, fostering an environment for continuous improvement and innovation. Its extensive features make it a valuable asset for organizations prioritizing network security and incident response.

Xplico is a prominent tool featured in many leading digital forensics and penetration testing distributions, including Kali Linux, BackTrack, DEFT, Security Onion, Matriux, BackBox, CERT Forensics Tools, Pentoo, and CERT-Toolkit. It supports simultaneous access for multiple users, allowing each to manage one or several cases effectively. The interface is web-based, and its backend database options include SQLite, MySQL, or PostgreSQL. Additionally, Xplico can function as a Cloud Network Forensic Analysis Tool. Its primary objective is to extract application data from internet traffic captures, such as retrieving emails via protocols like POP, IMAP, and SMTP, along with HTTP content, VoIP calls through SIP, and file transfers using FTP and TFTP from pcap files. Importantly, Xplico is not classified as a network protocol analyzer. As an open-source Network Forensic Analysis Tool (NFAT), it organizes the reassembled data with an associated XML file that distinctly identifies the data flows and the corresponding pcap file. This structured approach enables users to efficiently analyze and manage the data extracted from network traffic.

Riverbed Packet Analyzer enhances the speed of real-time network packet analysis and the reporting process for extensive trace files, utilizing a user-friendly graphical interface and a variety of pre-set analysis perspectives. This tool allows users to rapidly identify and resolve intricate network and application performance problems right down to the bit level, featuring seamless integration with Wireshark. By simply dragging and dropping preconfigured views onto virtual interfaces or trace files, users can achieve results in mere seconds, drastically reducing the time typically needed for such tasks. Furthermore, it supports the capture and combination of multiple trace files, which aids in accurately diagnosing issues across different segments of the network. It also allows users to zoom in on a 100-microsecond window, enabling them to spot utilization spikes or microbursts that could overwhelm a gigabit network and lead to major disruptions. Such capabilities make it an indispensable tool for network professionals seeking to optimize performance and troubleshoot effectively.

The Observer Platform serves as a robust network performance monitoring and diagnostics (NPMD) solution that effectively ensures the optimal performance of all IT services. As an integrated system, it offers insights into essential key performance indicators (KPIs) through established workflows that range from overall dashboards to the identification of root causes for service anomalies. This platform is particularly well-equipped to meet business objectives and address challenges throughout the entire IT enterprise lifecycle, whether it involves the implementation of new technologies, the management of existing resources, the resolution of service issues, or the enhancement of IT asset utilization. Furthermore, the Observer Management Server (OMS) user interface acts as a cybersecurity tool, enabling straightforward navigation for the authentication of security threats, the management of user access and password security, the administration of web application updates, and the consolidation of management tools into a single, central interface. By streamlining these processes, it enhances operational efficiency and supports organizations in maintaining a secure and effective IT environment.

Omnipeek® provides advanced visual packet analysis and deep packet inspection, enabling quicker resolution times for network and security challenges. Organizations and service providers rely heavily on consistent network functionality. Issues such as configuration mistakes, application errors, and security breaches can threaten operations, degrade user experience, and negatively impact financial performance. To ensure optimal network performance, engineers must maintain continuous surveillance of their networks and swiftly address any emerging issues. They require real-time insights across all network segments, including 1/10/40/100 Gigabit, 802.11, and voice and video over IP, as well as for all traffic levels. Omnipeek stands out as a top-tier network analytics solution, offering user-friendly visualization and powerful forensic capabilities that accelerate the resolution of network and application performance challenges, along with security assessments. Building on extensive experience in LiveAction packet intelligence, Omnipeek supports customizable workflows that enhance user efficiency and effectiveness in managing network performance.

Capsa is a versatile tool designed for network performance analysis and diagnostics, offering a robust packet capture and analysis solution that caters to both experienced professionals and newcomers, simplifying the task of safeguarding and overseeing networks in crucial business settings. By using Capsa, users can stay informed about potential threats that might lead to significant disruptions in business operations. This portable network analyzer serves both LAN and WLAN environments, delivering features such as real-time packet capturing, continuous network surveillance, detailed protocol analysis, thorough packet decoding, and automatic expert-level diagnostics. The high-level overview provided by Capsa allows network administrators and engineers to swiftly identify and tackle application issues that may arise. With its intuitive interface and powerful data capture capabilities, Capsa stands out as an essential resource for efficient network monitoring, ensuring that businesses remain resilient and secure in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. Ultimately, Capsa's comprehensive functionality makes it a vital asset for any organization looking to enhance its network management strategy.

The Intelligence Hub serves as a comprehensive real-time analytics platform that models and connects client trading activities, plant efficiency, and counterpart execution within venues to facilitate proactive management and operational strategies. Corvil functions as an open data infrastructure that grants API access to a wide array of analytics, trading insights, market data messages, and their foundational packet structures. The Streaming Data API enhances this system by providing an expanding collection of Corvil Connectors, which allow for the seamless integration of streaming data directly from network packets into preferred big data platforms. Additionally, Corvil Center acts as a centralized access point for all analytical and reporting needs, enabling users to visualize vast quantities of granular packet data captured by Corvil with just a few clicks. Furthermore, Corvil Instrumentation delivers exceptional price-to-performance packet analysis and capture appliances, including software-defined packet sniffers known as Corvil Sensors, designed to extend capabilities into virtual and cloud-based environments, as well as the Corvil AppAgent for internal multi-hop software instrumentation, thereby ensuring comprehensive data insights across diverse settings. This integrated approach not only optimizes data accessibility but also enhances decision-making processes for businesses operating in dynamic environments.

CommView is an advanced network monitoring and analysis tool tailored for LAN administrators, security experts, network developers, and even casual users who seek a comprehensive overview of the data traversing through a computer or a local area network segment. Packed with numerous intuitive features, CommView merges high performance and adaptability with an unparalleled user-friendliness that stands out in the market. This application captures every packet transmitted over the network, presenting critical details such as lists of network packets and connections, essential statistics, and protocol distribution graphs. Users can analyze, save, filter, import, and export the captured packets while gaining insights into protocol decodes down to the most fundamental layer, supporting over 100 different protocols for thorough analysis. By leveraging this wealth of information, CommView enables users to identify network issues and effectively troubleshoot both software and hardware challenges. Furthermore, the latest iteration, CommView version 7.0, has introduced on-the-fly SSL/TLS traffic decryption, enhancing its capabilities even further for those needing to secure and monitor their network communications. This enhancement signifies a significant advancement in network analysis technology, making it an invaluable tool for users seeking to maintain robust network security.