Analyze network traffic with Sniffnet Traffic Monitor
Linux Magazine|#270/May 2023: Green Coding
Network traffic remains a closed book for many users. Sniffnet lets less experienced users monitor their network traffic with ease.
Erik Bärwaldt
Analyze network traffic with Sniffnet Traffic Monitor

Monitoring network traffic is part of the admin’s daily grind. Most admins use the graphical Wireshark tool because of its wealth of functions as well as its availability in most distributions’ respositories. Because Wireshark is primarily aimed at professional users, you need in-depth network knowledge to use it. The new Sniffnet project targets less experienced users, providing meaningful results in a simple, intuitive, and clearcut interface.

Installation

Sniffnet is a cross-platform Rust application [1]. If you don’t have the Rust programming language on your system, first set it up with the command from line 2 of Listing 1. The installation routine requires some interactive input and prints some status messages at the prompt. You install Sniffnet itself in the terminal using the Rust package manager, Cargo (line 4).

If you are using a Linux distribution with a DEB package manager, you can install the precompiled DEB package [2] from the project’s GitHub page instead; this removes the need to implement Rust first (line 6).

For the program to work correctly, you will definitely need to resolve some dependencies [3] (line 8), regardless of the installation path. When done, call Sniffnet with the sudo sniffnet command.

This story is from the #270/May 2023: Green Coding edition of Linux Magazine.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the #270/May 2023: Green Coding edition of Linux Magazine.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM LINUX MAGAZINEView All
URL filtering with Pi-hole Into the Funnel
Linux Magazine

URL filtering with Pi-hole Into the Funnel

Supporting browser plug-ins, network-based DNS blockers like Pi-hole help protect you against online tracking and unwanted content.

time-read
10+ mins  |
#274/August 2023: The Best of Small Distros
Artificial intelligence on the Raspberry Pi Learning Experience
Linux Magazine

Artificial intelligence on the Raspberry Pi Learning Experience

You don't need a powerful computer system to use Al. We show what it takes to benefit from Al on the Raspberry Pi and what tasks the small computer can handle.

time-read
7 mins  |
#274/August 2023: The Best of Small Distros
MakerSpace Manage your greenhouse with a Raspberry Pi Pico W Sheltered Growth
Linux Magazine

MakerSpace Manage your greenhouse with a Raspberry Pi Pico W Sheltered Growth

You can safely assign some greenhouse tasks to a Raspberry Pi Pico W, such as controlling ventilation, automating a heater, and opening and closing windows.

time-read
7 mins  |
#274/August 2023: The Best of Small Distros
Control Center
Linux Magazine

Control Center

Tipi gives you complete control of more than 100 applications and services. A mouse click is all it takes to install the apps.

time-read
6 mins  |
#274/August 2023: The Best of Small Distros
In One Fell Swoop
Linux Magazine

In One Fell Swoop

Topgrade detects all the package managers installed on a system and executes them one by one at the command line.

time-read
3 mins  |
#274/August 2023: The Best of Small Distros
Go Faster!
Linux Magazine

Go Faster!

The fastest way through a curve on a racetrack is along the racing line. Instead of heading for Indianapolis, Mike Schilli trains his reflexes with a desktop application written in Go, just to be on the safe side.

time-read
9 mins  |
#274/August 2023: The Best of Small Distros
Math Magic
Linux Magazine

Math Magic

MathLex lets you easily transform handwritten math formulas to digital format and use them on the web.

time-read
5 mins  |
#274/August 2023: The Best of Small Distros
Custom Repair Toolkit
Linux Magazine

Custom Repair Toolkit

You can do more with System Rescue than just repair broken systems. By adding tools and scripts, you can create a custom rescue environment that meets your needs.

time-read
8 mins  |
#274/August 2023: The Best of Small Distros
At Your Disposal
Linux Magazine

At Your Disposal

Debvm lets you quickly create a temporary virtual machine with a small memory footprint, ideal for testing scripts or mixing repositories

time-read
4 mins  |
#274/August 2023: The Best of Small Distros
A Fresh Breeze
Linux Magazine

A Fresh Breeze

Vanilla OS, an immutable filesystem, seamlessly integrates applications from other distributions with an innovative container-based package manager.

time-read
5 mins  |
#274/August 2023: The Best of Small Distros