Know How...

Jun 8th 2017

Know How... 317

Networking 102 - Part 5: Taps

Why, where and how to tap your network and monitor traffic!

Although the show is no longer in production, you can enjoy episodes from the TWiT Archives.
Category: Help & How To

We go over the basics of how to monitor traffic on your network using taps and Wireshark!

Let's Talk Taps!        
        
        
midBit Technologies: SharkTap Gigabit Ethernet Sniffer        
* PoE Passthrough        
* 350mA draw at 5volts (USB Powered)        
* Auto-MDIX        
* Aggregates both sides of the conversation to the receive port on the tap        
  -- (This DOES mean that if the total aggregate bandwidth exceeds 1Gbps, packets will drop        
* Drops any packets going into the Tap port        
        
Step 1: Get a Tapping device        
* Gig, 10/100, aggregating, tap, hub, SPAN/Mirror port        
* See episode 63 of “Know How”         
* Padre prefers the Netoptics Gig Zero Delay Tap – But that runs $700-$1000 USED!       
* A much more affordable option is the “Throwing Star LAN Tap Pro” from the HakShop - $39.99        
* But my new AFFORDABLE favorite is the SharkTap        
        
Step 2: Get a device capable of receiving the tap data stream        
* Anything with a WIRED port that is capable of receiving the full speed of your chosen tap        
* USB adapters are fine, but remember that USB 2.0 devices top out at 480Mbps. If you’re using a Gig tap, you’ll drop traffic once the pipe is less than half full.        
        
Step 3: Get Wireshark (www.wireshark.org)        
* Mac/PC/Linux – 32/64bit – Choose the version that is right for you.        
        
Step 4: Choose where to place your tap        
* The tap will capture the traffic going between the two devices on either side of the tap.         
* Tapping the Externals will give you ALL devices on your network.        
* Tapping the Wireless AP will give you ONLY the devices connected wirelessly        
* Tapping a specific desktop/laptop/set-top box will give you ONLY that traffic        

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