Wireshark/Start

Wireshark is a free and open source packet analyzer used for network troubleshooting and analysis. These activities will show you how to use Wireshark to start a network capture.

Preparation

To prepare for this activity, make sure Wireshark is already installed.

Activity 1 - Start Wireshark

Two different methods for starting Wireshark are available. These include the Start menu and the Run command box.

Method 1 - Start Menu

To start Wireshark using the Start menu:

Open the Start menu.
Select All Programs.
Select Wireshark.

Method 2 - Run Command

To start Wireshark using the Run command box:

Open the Start menu or press the Windows key + R.
Type Wireshark in the Run command box.
Press Enter.

Activity 2 - Open the Capture Interfaces Dialog Box

Three different methods for opening the Capture Interfaces dialog box are available. These include the Capture menu, the Capture Interfaces toolbar button, and the Capture Interfaces keyboard shortcut.

Method 1 - Capture Menu

To open the Capture Interfaces dialog box using the Capture menu:

Select the Capture menu.
Select Interfaces.

Method 2 - Capture Interfaces Toolbar Button

To open the Capture Interfaces dialog box using the Capture interfaces Toolbar button:

Locate the toolbar button with the help text List the available capture interfaces. This should be the first toolbar button on the left.
Click the Capture Interfaces toolbar button.

Method 3 - Capture Interfaces Keyboard Shortcut

To open the Capture Interfaces dialog box using the Capture interfaces keyboard shortcut:

Press <Ctrl> + I.

Activity 3 - Start a Wireshark Capture

To start a Wireshark capture from the Capture Interfaces dialog box:

Observe the available interfaces. If you have multiple interfaces displayed, look for the interface with the highest packet count. This is your most active network interface.
Select the interface you want to use for the capture using the check box on the left.
Select Start to begin the capture.