Accessing packets quickly and efficiently using: Snapshot and Triggered Intercept
For those who struggle with the process of effectively monitoring and troubleshooting your network, you’re not alone. The process of obtaining access to packets can be a grueling task. Oftentimes, we consider cutting corners by turning to other methods like Running Wireshark or tcpdump on a live network interface, but without filtering this can capture excessive traffic, making it difficult to isolate specific packets and increasing the risk of missing critical data, especially when all we need is a few packets out of a stream or simply getting the right packets based on pre-defined criteria.
There are many different network tools on the market that offer different features, but two specialized and optimized tools from cPacket can address the challenge of accessing packets quickly and efficiently: the Snapshot feature and Triggered Intercept. cPacket Packet Brokers (cVu) are equipped with both tools to simplify and solve these and other network troubleshooting issues.
How Does the Snapshot Feature Work?
The Snapshot feature is extremely useful for capturing all packets that match specific criteria based on any L2-L7 (header through payload) information. For example:
• Verifying a filter configuration.
• Searching for packets that match a specific IP for quick troubleshooting.
• Assessing a potential security issue by looking for a specific payload.
Each Smart Port on a cPacket Packet Broker (cVu) device can hold up to ten snapshots before older captures are deleted, following a first-in, first-out (FIFO) process. This ensures that new captures are prioritized without manual intervention.
How Does the Triggered Intercept Feature Work?
Let’s say you want to drill down and investigate network traffic leading up to an event. The Smart Filter specification can be used to set the midpoint of the capture buffer, collecting packets before and after the “trigger packets” are captured.
From a security standpoint, this feature is incredibly valuable because it provides users with a detailed timeline of network activity before and after an incident. This enables more accurate forensic analysis and decision-making. The trigger packet’s position in the buffer, along with the collected network traffic, ensures clear visibility into the event’s impact.
It’s important to note that Triggered Intercept differs from Snapshot in how packets are captured:
• Instead of capturing all packets that match a target filter, Smart Filters define a midpoint in the capture buffer.
• Packets before and after the trigger event are captured for comprehensive analysis.
Why These Features Matter
cPacket’s Packet Broker (cVu) Snapshot and Triggered Intercept features deliver direct access to packets based on specific header and payload criteria at line rate. They also eliminate the need to manually search through large capture files, making packet retrieval faster and more efficient.
Imagine being able to sample packets matching any combination of header and payload fields (L2-L7) at line rate across multiple links in parallel. This capability enables:
• Eliminating bottlenecks in network troubleshooting.
• Reducing mean-time-to-resolution (MTTR) for incidents.
• Ensuring network traffic reaches its destination faster.
• Providing a cost-effective alternative to traditional packet capture methods.
Conclusion
The ability to quickly and efficiently access the right packets is essential for effective network troubleshooting and security monitoring. cPacket’s Snapshot and Triggered Intercept features empower network teams to capture, analyze, and respond to critical network events with precision. By leveraging these tools, organizations can significantly reduce troubleshooting time, enhance network visibility, and improve overall performance.
Want to learn more about how cPacket’s Packet Broker (cVu) Snapshot and Triggered Intercept features can optimize your network troubleshooting and security operations. Contact us today!
