Overview

The program interface consists of five tabs that allow you to view data and perform various actions with captured packets. To start capturing packets, click on the Start Capture button or select File = > Start Capture from the menu.

Main Menu

File

Start/Stop Capture – starts/stops capturing packets.

Suspend/Resume Packet Output – stops/resumes the real-time packet output on the 4th tab.

Save Nodes As – allows you to save the contents of the Nodes tab.

Save Channels As – allows you to save the contents of the Channels tab.

Save Latest IP Connections As – allows you to save the contents of the Latest IP Connections tab.

Save Packet Log As – allows you to save the contents of the Packets tab in different formats. Use the Logging tab for advanced saving options.

Log Viewer – opens a new Log Viewer window.

VoIP Log Viewer – opens a new VoIP Log Viewer window.

Clear Nodes – clears the Nodes table (1st tab).

Clear Channels – clears the Channels table (2nd tab).

Clear Latest IP Connections – clears the Latest IP Connections table (3rd tab).

Clear Packet Buffer – clears the contents of the program's buffer and the packet list (4th tab).

Clear VoIP Data – clears the contents of the VoIP tab.

Performance Data – displays the program's performance statistics: the number of packets captured and dropped by the device driver.

Exit – closes the program.

Search

Find Packet – shows a dialog that allows you to find packets matching a specific text.

Go to Packet Number - shows a dialog that allows you to jump to a packet with the specified number.

View

Statistics – shows a window with data transfer and protocol distribution statistics.

Port Reference – shows a window with port reference information.

Log Directory – opens the directory to which logs are saved by default.

Nodes Columns – shows/hides the Nodes tab columns.

Channels Columns – shows/hides the Channels tab columns.

Latest IP Connections Columns – shows/hides the Latest IP Connections tab columns.

Packets Columns – shows/hides the Packets tab columns.

Tools

Packet Generator – opens the Packet Generator window.

Reconstruct TCP Session – allows you to reconstruct a TCP session starting from the selected packet; it opens a window that displays the entire conversation between two hosts.

Reconstruct UDP Stream – allows you to reconstruct a UDP stream starting from the selected packet; it opens a window that displays the entire conversation between two hosts.

NIC Vendor Identifier – opens a window where you can identify a network adapter vendor by MAC address.

Scheduler – allows you to add or remove scheduled capturing tasks.

Node Reassociation – opens the Node Reassociation window.

Settings

Fonts – shows the submenu for setting the fonts of the interface elements.

WEP/WPA Keys – opens a window that allows you to enter WEP/WPA keys.

MAC Aliases – brings up a window where you can assign easy-to-remember aliases to MAC addresses.

IP Aliases – brings up a window where you can assign easy-to-remember aliases to IP addresses.

Options – brings up the Options window where additional advanced program options can be set.

Language – allows you to change the interface language. Be sure to restart the program once you've changed the language. The CommView for WiFi installation package may not include all available language files for the interface. Clicking on the Other Languages menu item opens the additional languages download page on our Web site where you can download your language file if it is available for the current version.

Rules

Capture Data Packets – check or uncheck this item to enable/disable capturing of packets of the type "Data."

Capture Management Packets – check or uncheck this item to enable/disable capturing of packets of the type "Management."

Capture Control Packets – check or uncheck this item to enable/disable capturing of packets of the type "Control."

Ignore Beacons - check or uncheck this item to enable/disable capturing of management packets of the type "Beacon."

Save Current Rules As – allows you to save current rules configuration to a file.

Load Rules From – allows you to load a previously saved rules configuration from a file.

Reset All – clears all existing rules (if any).

Help

Contents – launches CommView help.

Search For Help On … – shows CommView help index.

Driver Installation Guide … – shows detailed driver installation instructions.

Check for an Update on the Web … – opens the update wizard. Please follow the instructions on the screen to download and install the latest upgrade for CommView for WiFi from the TamoSoft Web site.

Activation – allows you to activate your software license or check the current activation status.

About – shows information about the program.

Almost every element of the interface has a context-sensitive menu that can be invoked by clicking on the right mouse button, and many commands are available only through these menus.

The first tab is used for displaying active access points and stations. For more information see Nodes.

The second tab is used for displaying per-channel statistics. For more information see Channels.

The third tab is used for displaying detailed information about WLAN network connections (IP protocol only). For more information see Latest IP Connections.

The fourth tab is used for viewing captured network packets and displaying detailed information about a selected packet. For more information see Packets.

The fifth tab allows you to save captured packets to files. For more information see Logging.

The sixth tab is for configuring rules that allow you to capture/ignore packets based on various criteria, such as IP address or port number. For more information see Rules.

The seventh tab allows you to create alarms that can notify you about important events, such as suspicious packets, high bandwidth utilization, unknown addresses, etc. For more information see Alarms.

The eighth tab allows you to work with the VoIP analysis module. Note that this tab is only available to VoIP license users or evaluation version users who selected VoIP evaluation mode.

You can change some of the settings, such as fonts, colors, and buffer size by selecting Settings from the menu. For more information see Setting Options.