PCMCIA NIC for Sniffer 1

[dmbezy]

I'm using Netasyst with a Dell D800. Th problem is that the Xircom cards we have take two slots. The Dell D series only have one. Can anyone suggest a nic for this that has Sniffer drivers? I haven't been able to find a list of Nic's with Sniffer drivers.

 

[rwullems]

Here's a list from Sniffer 4.7. Don't think there is much difference between that and 4.7.5 (dpn't have that doc here right now). Try to find a (second hand?) CBE2, these use only one slot.

Sniffer (Xircom) CardBus Ethernet II 10/100 (CBE2)
Sniffer (Xircom) Realport CardBus Ethernet Adapter
Sniffer (Xircom) Realport2 CardBus Ethernet Adapter
Sniffer (IBM) 10/100 EtherJet CardBus Adapter Token
Ring

Regards,
Robert

 

[wybnormal]

Keep in mind that the only real reason for the Sniffer approved cards is to see errors which on most switched networks do not exist much anymore. I've used Sniffer 4.7 with a varity of cards quite successfully. Currently I use the builtin INtel EtherExpress on my Compaq laptop.

MikeS


Find me at

http://www.packetattack.com

"Take advantage of the enemy's unreadiness, make your way by unexpected routes, and attack unguarded spots."
Sun Tzu

 

[phaelon56]

"Wybnormal" makes a very good point. Just to clarify: if by some slim chance you are monitoring or capturing from a shared media Ethernet hub the Sniffer drivers will allow you to see Layer 1 and Layer 2 errors such as CRC's, runts and fragments. As already pointed out - if you're using SPAN ports or mirror ports, just use the onbpard NIC of your PC - it will do the same thing as the "supported" NIC's.

Owen O'Neill
Datacom Systems Inc.
Northeastern SE

http://www.datacomsystems.com

 

[Sniff4Food]

Direct from the readme.wri for Sniffer Portable 4.7.5 sp3 (I know, I can't believe I'm admitting to reading the readme in public either), here are the list of supported cards that NAI has enhanced drivers for:
Xircom CBE2 Cardbus Card
Xircom Realport Cardbus Card
Xircom Realport2 Cardbus Card
Intel Pro/100 + MiniPCI Adapter
IBM Etherjet Cardbus Card
Symbol Spectrum 24 LA-4121-1050-US & EU
Cisco Aironet 340/350 PCMCIA Cards
Lucent Orinoco Gold PCMCIA Card
Enterasys RoamAbout PCMCIA Card
Proxim Harmony, 802.11a PCMCIA card

The IBM driver works with IBM's Ethernet card.

While Mike and Owen are correct, the NAI drivers will pass up the physically damaged frames that most switches will not forward to the mirror port, that is not the only reason to use the NAI enhanced drivers. Won't do things like drop frames and not report that to the Dashboard, pass frames up in the wrong order, or my personal favorite, duplicate frames that were sent by the laptop running the Sniffer in the Decode Display. These are all things that have happened to me when running my Sniffer using cards other than the ones on the NAI list, or when I used the regular Xircom driver for my Xircom RealPort card.

Since you are buying a new card anyway, make your life simpler and get one from the approved list and install the enhanced drivers. Just don't buy it from NAI, the sticker is not worth the extra $400.

Betty
Life is better in BettyLand.