Analyzing Network Data with Network Monitor

Network Monitor is a component of Microsoft Systems Management Server (SMS) that you can use to detect and troubleshoot problems on LANs and on WANs that connect to the Microsoft Remote Access Service (RAS). With Network Monitor, you can identify network traffic patterns and network problems. For example, you can locate client-to-server connection problems, find a computer that makes a disproportionate number of work requests, and identify unauthorized users on your network.

With Network Monitor, you can:

• Capture frames (packets) directly from the network.
• Display and filter the captured frames.
• Capture frames from a remote computer and display the capture statistics on the local computer at intervals that you specify.
• Edit captured frames and transmit them onto the network to test network resources or to reproduce network problems.
• Use experts to perform post-capture analyses of frames to identify network trends and issues.

You can also use the Monitor Control Tool to configure monitors that watch for specific frames that identify certain network problems.

Related Topics

How Network Monitor Works

About the Capture Window

About the Frame Viewer Window

About the Monitor Control Tool

About the Event Viewer Window

Network Monitor Guide to Books on Networking

Tool List

Tools Overview