NetDump can also refer to simple network packet capture and analysis tools, usually developed for educational purposes or as lightweight alternatives to more comprehensive tools like Wireshark or tcpdump.

• Purpose: These tools capture network traffic (packets) from a local area network (LAN) interface and display or analyze their contents.

• Capabilities (Typical):

  • Live Capture: Capture packets in real-time from a network interface.

  • Offline Analysis: Read and analyze packets from pre-recorded capture files (e.g., .pcap files).

     

  • Packet Display: Show raw packet data or attempt to parse and display headers (Ethernet, IP, TCP, UDP, etc.) and payload information.

  • Filtering: Apply basic filters (e.g., based on IP address, port number) to narrow down the captured traffic.

  • Basic Statistics: Provide rudimentary statistics about captured protocols or traffic volume.

• Comparison to Wireshark/tcpdump: These “NetDump” tools are generally much simpler and less feature-rich than professional-grade packet analyzers like Wireshark (which provides a powerful GUI, extensive protocol dissection, and advanced analysis features) or tcpdump (a command-line utility known for its powerful filtering and scripting capabilities). They are often developed by individuals learning network programming