Software and Hardware ToolsCOMP 316

Software Tools

Network Scanners Family of tools used to analyze networks

Packet sniffers Intrusion detection system

(IDS/IPS)software Port scanners

Packet sniffers Actually looks inside every packet on a

network segment Give statistics on network utilization and

packet traffic data as well as capture individual frames for analysis

The basic purpose is to collect and analyze each individual packet that is captured on a specific network segment to determine if problems like bottlenecks, retransmissions, and security breaches are happening

Packet sniffers

Intrusion Detection & Prevention Software IDS

Identifies, detects, and reports attempts of unauthorized access to the network as well as any suspicious activity

IPS Can stop the attack by

shutting down ports or dropping certain types of packets

Port scanners Software tool designed to search a host

for open ports

Hardware Tools

Cable Testers Verify connection

through the cable Determine if the

cable is straight-through or crossover

Identify problems such as grounding issues as well

Loopback Plug Diagnostic procedure in

which a signal is transmitted and returned to the sending device after passing through all or a portion of a network or circuit

Are made for both Ethernet an fiber applications

Wire-Map Testers Device that transmit

signals through each wire in a copper twisted-pair cable to determine if it’s connected to the correct pin at the other end.

Consists of a remote unit that you attach to the far end of a connection and a battery-operated, handheld main unit that displays the results

Multimeter Called volt/ohm meter (VOM) Multitasking electronics

measuring instrument Measure voltage, current, and

resistance

Toner Probe Simple copper cable tester that

is simple to use and can be used to trace a wire in a wall

Can identify a particular cable at any point between the two ends, and because the probe can detect the cable containing the tone signal through its sheath.

Punch-Down Tool Use to punch down the wire that

terminated in wiring closets into some kind of insulation displacement connector (IDC)

Cable Stripper/Snips