What is a protocol analyzer?

An example of a protocol analyzer in action is Wireshark. For instance, if a network engineer notices that a particular website is loading slowly, they can use Wireshark to capture the network traffic and examine the data packets being sent and received. By analyzing these packets, they can identify if there are delays in DNS resolution, excessive retransmissions, or issues with the TCP handshake. With this information, the engineer can pinpoint the cause of the problem, whether it's related to the network infrastructure, server, or application layer.

Application of protocol analyzer

１．Investigating Web Application Latency
In a company, employees report that a web application is slower than usual. A network engineer uses Wireshark to capture network traffic and identify the cause of the delay. Upon analysis, they find that the server takes longer to respond to client requests, possibly due to server overload or database access issues.
２．Detecting Suspicious Communication
The security team notices that an employee's PC frequently communicates with a suspicious IP address. By analyzing the PC’s traffic with a protocol analyzer, they detect signs of unauthorized access attempts from an external source. They promptly enhance security measures and block the communication.
３．Troubleshooting VoIP Call Quality Issues
When VoIP call quality in the office degrades, the engineer uses a protocol analyzer to check for packet loss or jitter (variations in delay). Analysis reveals delays at a particular router, and by replacing this device, call quality improves significantly.

These examples show how protocol analyzers are vital tools for quickly diagnosing and addressing network issues.

※Includes information on some trading companies