Microsoft Network Monitor (NetMon) is a software utility designed to help users capture network traffic and analyze incoming and outgoing packets. The packet analyzer is wrapped in a user-friendly interface and comes bundled with intuitive options.
A packet sniffer comes in handy for troubleshooting application connectivity issues. For example, you can detect the programs that use a surprisingly high amount of traffic, which is usually a tell of malware activity. Packet analyzers are also great for security analysis, whether you’re an expert or not.
Although Microsoft Network Monitor is discontinued and no longer receives updates, we still think it’s one of the best packet sniffers for your Windows PC. It works not only with older editions like Windows XP but also with modern iterations, including Windows 10.
Screenshots
Our Review
- Pros
- Capture network packets and monitor traffic
- Supports over 300 protocols
- 100% free to use
- Cons
- No longer supported
Check out the system requirements, setup process, interface, and set of features below. We’ve also included how-to-use steps, our review, and possible replacements for Microsoft Network Monitor.
Microsoft Network Monitor system requirements
Before you download NetMon to your Windows PC, check if your system meets these prerequisites:
- Processor: 1 GHz or a more powerful CPU
- Memory: at least 1 Gb of RAM
- Free disk space: around 60 Mb for the program and more for saving files
- OS: Windows 10, 8.1, 8, 7, Vista, XP, Server 2008, Server 2003
How to install Microsoft Network Monitor
There are two setup files available for download, x86, and x64, depending on your system’s architecture. Afterward, you can begin installing the Microsoft Network Monitor capture and parser engine before the parsers.
Besides reviewing and accepting the license terms, you can opt for using Microsoft Update to check for updates, as well as customize the setup package by excluding the program components, system path update, or documents. You can also place a shortcut on the desktop. It’s a good idea to restart your PC to finalize the setup.
Microsoft Network Monitor interface
When it comes to the graphical interface, it’s quite clear that Microsoft Network Monitor is outdated, judging by its Windows XP style. Nevertheless, it has a clear-cut main window that makes it easy to find all its options.
The layout is set to a simple mode by default, but you can change it to diagnostic or developer mode if you need to directly examine network data using the hexadecimal display. NetMon shows the network conversations and display filters, together with the frame summary and details.
How to use Microsoft Network Monitor
Here are simple steps to help you easily capture network traffic with NetMon:
- Make sure to restart your computer after installing the packet sniffer
- At program startup, select the network to analyze
- Start a new network capturing session and begin network monitoring
- The Network Conversations area gradually fills with network traffic
- Select a process from the list to view its frame summary and details
- You can load any filter to exclude unwanted network data
- The displayed, selected or all captured frames can be saved to file
An excellent packet sniffer, even for Windows 10
Taking everything into account, Microsoft Network Monitor is an excellent software solution that can help you inspect network traffic, debug programs with Internet connection issues, detect possible malware activity, conduct security analysis, and more.
NetMon uses a decent amount of system resources while it scans the network adapter, so you shouldn’t expect any computer performance issues. It might be heavier on older PCs, though. The tool is wrapped in a user-friendly interface and comes bundled with many practical options for all types of users.
Even though it’s no longer supported, Microsoft Network Monitor is a great option for PCs. We haven’t experienced any compatibility issues when testing it on Windows 10.
Microsoft Network Monitor replacements
If you prefer a packet sniffer that still gets regular updates, then you might be interested in alternatives to Microsoft Network Monitor. Wireshark is a great choice and pretty popular when it comes to network protocol analyzers. It has a comprehensive set of features for deep inspection, along with offline analysis tools.
PRTG Network Monitor is another packet sniffer that deserves your attention. It’s a pro-level agentless security program that integrates advanced utilities for network monitoring and analysis. PRTG can tell you how your network bandwidth is being used by processes with the help of SNMP and NetFlow.
PRTG Network Monitor
If you want a complete overview of your network and all the activities within it, use PRTG Network Monitor
FAQ: Learn more about Microsoft Network Monitor
- Which tool is the successor to the Microsoft Network Monitor?
Microsoft Message Analyzer was the successor of Microsoft Network Monitor, but it was discontinued on November 25, 2019. There’s no current successor at this time. However, if you have an Azure account, you can use Azure Network Watcher.
- How do I monitor ports in Windows traffic?
To find out which ports are open, run Command Prompt with administrator rights and use the netstat -ab command. You can also use third-party tools like Nirsoft’s CurrPort, SolarWinds Free Port Scanner or Zenmap.
- How do I check my network speed in Windows?
In Control Panel -> Network and Internet -> Network Connections, double-click your network to view properties, including speed. Also, check out the best tools to test your Internet speed on your Windows PC.
Capture the network traffic and analyze it»
If you manage a network of computers then you need a tool to know more details about different traffic events to identify and fix possible problems. It is impossible to see the byte transactions going on in the network layer without the use of some specialized tools to analyze the traffic. This is one of such applications that network administrators depend on to monitor the data transmission going on in a network. The interface is intuitive and you will find easy where to see different reports and events.
It is able to monitor the traffic send through switches, routers, computers of various operating systems. Therefore, the administrator can detect the type of traffic passing through the network irrespective of the hardware involved.
Protocol analysis
The program interface offers ample information about network transactions in several windows. The user can change the arrangement of the windows and also restore it back to its default settings with a click of the mouse. The Administrator can also filter the type of traffic to capture by a variety of ways such IP address and protocols to single out traffic from a particular computer or service.
Microsoft Network Monitor is licensed as freeware for PC or laptop with Windows 32 bit and 64 bit operating system. It is in network monitoring category and is available to all software users as a free download.
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Author |
Microsoft
|
Last Updated On |
April 26, 2018 |
Runs on |
Windows 10 / Windows 8 / Windows 7 / Windows Vista / XP |
Total downloads |
2,352 |
License |
Free |
File size |
8,33 MB |
Filename |
NM34_x86.exe NM34_x64.exe |
Операционная система: Windows
Лицензия: Бесплатно
Описание
Microsoft Network Monitor – анализатор трафика с широкими возможностями фильтрации данных. Программа способна перехватывать и анализировать любой трафик сети и сохранять собранные данные для дальнейшего исследования. Microsoft Network Monitor умеет отслеживать процессы, анализировать протоколы, одновременно работать с несколькими сетевыми адаптерами, отслеживать трафик в реальном времени и другое. Программа обладает большим набором фильтров, которые могут быть использованы для выделения конкретных деталей из захваченного пакета, что позволяет получить только необходимые детали без лишней информации. Microsoft Network Monitor предлагает множество информации и разных деталей, которые хорошо структурированы и интуитивно понятно расположены.
Основные особенности:
- Анализ трафика в реальном времени
- Широкие возможности фильтрации данных
- Встроенный скриптовый анализатор
- Создание персонализированных фильтров
Microsoft Network Monitor is a specialized program for Windows that allows users to track, filter and interpret the information exchanged over a network connection. It provides a wide range of functions to assist system administrators in monitoring the data transmissions.
View and analyze data
After launching the utility, you can start the traffic capture and analysis. However, it is important to mention that it may be necessary to run the software with administrator’s privileges, in order to have it function efficiently.
The graphical user interface displays information inside several windows placed inside the main window. If you want to make some changes to the default layout, there is a dedicated button that gives you the ability to restore the original with a single click.
Filters and capture settings
The application is equipped with various filters that may be used to identify specific details from a capture package. What is more, you have the ability to create custom filters. You can make them from existing ones or from scratch.
Please note, before beginning the traffic data acquisition you have the option to specify the set of filters that will be used. This means that you are able to get only the details you are looking for, instead of a lot of unnecessary information. If you want to intercept and modify data packets, you may use another tool called clumsy.
Features
- free to download and use;
- compatible with modern Windows versions;
- gives you the ability to monitor and analyze network traffic;
- it is possible to customize the interface layout;
- you can create custom filters from scratch.
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Средний рейтинг 3.0, всего оценок — 1
- Скачать программу
- Описание и функции
- Скриншоты интерфейса
- Комментарии пользователей
Название→ | Microsoft Network Monitor 3 |
---|---|
Версия→ | 3.4 |
Лицензия→ | Бесплатно |
Поддержка→ | Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, Vista, XP |
Размер файла→ | 6.1 Мб |
Разработчик→ | Microsoft Corp. |
Обновлено→ | 28 июня 2010 |
Microsoft Network Monitor 3 — это анализатор сетевых протоколов, который может захватывать сетевой трафик для дальнейшей проверки сетевым администратором.
Скачать для Windows
Скачайте последнюю версию Microsoft Network Monitor 3 3.4 по прямой ссылке. Программа совместима с операционными системами Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, Vista, XP разрядностью 32/64-bit, размер установочного файла — 6.1 Мб. Данный программный продукт разработан Microsoft Corp. и распространяется бесплатно. Также вы можете скачать программу с официального сайта.
Описание программы
Программа поддерживает фильтры регулярных выражений, синтаксические анализаторы с поддержкой сценариев, пользовательские типы данных и другие расширенные функции.
Сетевой монитор 3 может одновременно захватывать пакеты на нескольких сетевых адаптерах и обеспечивает отображение в реальном времени, а также представление кадров и дерева для управления захваченными данными.