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How to Use Wireshark On Raspberry Pi for Network Analysis

Wireshark is an open-source network protocol analyzer that provides deep insights into network traffic. Running Wireshark on a Raspberry Pi allows for portable, cost-effective network monitoring and analysis.

Here are some of the benefits of using Wireshark on a Raspberry Pi:

• The compact Raspberry Pi can function as a dedicated network monitoring device.
• It provides a budget-friendly solution for network diagnostics.

The requirements include:

• Raspberry Pi
• Network connection (Ethernet or Wi-Fi).
• Monitor, keyboard, and mouse (or SSH for remote access).
• Raspberry Pi OS.
• Wireshark software.

Step-by-step Instructions

1. First, update the system packages:

   sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
2. Then, install Wireshark using the package manager:

   sudo apt install wireshark -y
3. To allow non-root users to capture packets:

   sudo dpkg-reconfigure wireshark-common

   Select Yes when prompted.
4. Now, add the user to the Wireshark group:

   sudo usermod -aG wireshark $USER
5. Log out and back in to apply changes.
6. Then, open Wireshark from the application menu or run:

   wireshark

7. On systems without a graphical interface, use TShark, the command-line version of Wireshark:

   tshark
8. Now, it is time to capture network traffic. Choose an interface (e.g., `eth0` for Ethernet or `wlan0` for Wi-Fi). Wireshark displays available interfaces at startup.
9. Click Start in Wireshark or use Tshark to start capturing:

   sudo tshark -i <interface>
10. We can use filters to refine captured data:

    
tcp.port == 80 # Capture HTTP traffic
ip.addr == 192.168.1.1 # Capture packets to/from a specific IP

11. Review packet details to diagnose network issues or understand protocol behavior.
12. We can also save captured packets for later analysis:
    • In Wireshark: File > Save As
    • In Tshark:

      sudo tshark -i <interface> -w capture.pcap

      Export data in different formats like CSV or plain text if needed.

Use Cases for Wireshark on Raspberry Pi

• Identify latency issues, dropped packets, or misconfigurations.
• Detect suspicious traffic or intrusion attempts.
• Explore protocols like HTTP, DNS, and TCP.
• Monitor smart home devices on the network.

Tips

• Ensure the network interface supports promiscuous mode to capture all packets. Enable it under Capture Options in Wireshark.
• For Ethernet traffic, use a network tap or configure your router/switch to mirror packets to the Raspberry Pi.
• Older Raspberry Pi models may struggle with large packet captures. Use filters to reduce unnecessary data.
• Only capture traffic on networks we own or have permission to monitor, as unauthorized packet capturing may be illegal.

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Conclusion

In brief, our Support Experts demonstrated how to use Wireshark On Raspberry Pi for Network Analysis.