Ethereal-users: RE: [ethereal-users] damn runts, how do I find 'em

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From: "Reimer, Fred" <Fred.Reimer@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Thu, 12 Oct 2000 10:05:40 -0400
Hmm.  The early switches (Kalpana) DID forward runts as they were "cut
through" switches.  This had the tendency of propagating errors throughout
the network.  So, if you are working with old crusty hardware you may get
runts through a switch.

I'm trying to help someone who has a Windows based "Sniffer" (Sniffer Basic
I believe) and isn't finding runts, even when plugged into a hub.  The
switch reports runts when the device is plugged directly into it.  Will
Sniffer Basic catch runts, or would you need a "real" Sniffer with the
special NIC?  Will Ethereal catch runts?  Does it matter if Ethereal is run
on Linux/Solaris/Windows?

Thanks,

Fred Reimer
Eclipsys Corporation

> -----Original Message-----
> From: ethereal-users-admin@xxxxxxxxxxxx
> [mailto:ethereal-users-admin@xxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of Visser, Martin
> (SNO)
> Sent: Wednesday, October 11, 2000 9:23 PM
> To: ethereal-users@xxxxxxxx
> Subject: RE: [ethereal-users] damn runts, how do I find 'em
> 
> 
> I think you will find that no software tool will allow you to 
> find runts (or
> errored frames, giants, collisions, etc). The NIC/driver will 
> discard these
> before any OS get's a look. You really would need a dedicated 
> hardware tool
> like Sniffer, that actually display these type of packets by 
> "best effort". 
> 
> BTW, a switch will no forward received runts, so if the port 
> on the hub is
> recording them, then it is somewhere on that physical link. 
> Try changing
> cables or ports to see if it goes away. (Also fixing port 
> speeds and the
> like can help)
> 
> Martin
> 
> Martin Visser
> Technology Consultant - Compaq Global Services
> 
> Compaq Computer Australia
> 410 Concord Road
> Rhodes, Sydney NSW 2138
> Australia
> 
> Phone: +61-2-9022-5630
> Mobile: +61-411-254-513
> Fax:+61-2-9022-7001
> Email:martin.visser@xxxxxxxxxx
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Malcolm Jackson [mailto:Malcolm.Jackson@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]
> Sent: Friday, 6 October 2000 10:32 PM
> To: ethereal-users@xxxxxxxx
> Subject: [ethereal-users] damn runts, how do I find 'em
> 
> 
> 
>  Hi, 
> 
>   I've been given the task of finding the source of excessive 
> runts on a 
> particular area on our switched backbone network. I can see 
> the runts only 
> when I check the statistics on the port that connects the hub 
> stack to the 
> switch, nowhere else.
>  
>   The runts appear to be coming from the switch out to the 
> stack of hubs, so
> 
> how  do I get ethereal to capture the runts at the hub end, 
> and would the 
> capture enable me to see where the runts are coming from?
> 
>   I'm sorry if all this seems vague, but I'm only a dumb techie.
> 
>   Any and all help greatly appreciated.
> 
> 
>   Cheers,
> 
>     Mal.
> 
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