Network monitor

[James Kosin]

Network monitorDear Chiu, PCM (Peter),

There is no monitoring of network switches without software on the switch to
do the monitoring.  Here is the basic operation of a switch.

1)    A switch tries to remember how to get to a specific destionation.  If
it knows that a destination is on port #3 (10.0.0.3) and port #1 (10.0.0.1)
is trying to reach #3.  The network packets go directly from #1 to #3
without messing with the other ports.  With a HUB, everyone sees this
activity.

2)    Switches do this to help speed up the network and make things more
efficent.  Note; you may get a few stray packets if the switch is still
trying to find out where everyone is.  But, once everyone is located,
packets rarely get sent to everyone like with a HUB.

3)    Some switches may have ways of monitoring network activity.  Don't ask
me witch ones..... I really don't know.

Good Luck,
James Kosin

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Chiu, PCM (Peter)
To: fedora-list at redhat.com
Cc: Chiu, PCM (Peter)
Sent: Wednesday, November 19, 2003 9:50 AM
Subject: Network monitor




Maybe I start a new query. I wonder if there is a suitable network
monitoring tool
that can reveal 100/1000BT network switches and end systems.
I have looked at ethereal and traceroute under system tools,
but they don't quite show the interconnecting network switches.
Many thanks in advance.
Peter