Selecting adapter

For the first time when you start AthTek NetWalk, you must select an adapters for the AthTek NetWalk. Even if you only have one adapter, you still need to confirm it. AthTek NetWalk will remember your adapter selection, and in the feature starting up will not require you to select again. But you can switch the current adapter by clicking menu Monitor>Switch Adapter.

Figure 2-4. Open adapter

Netwalk open adapter Selecting adapter

If the WinPcap is installed, there are three kind of adapters at least:

  • Adapter for generic dialup and VPN capture. This adapter is virtual adapter used to capture the traffic of dial-up connections (such as VPN traffic).
  • Ethernet adapters. They correspond to the real NIC on the computer. If you want to monitor or capture the real traffic, you should select the right one of them.
  • AthTek NetWalk loopback adapter. It is used when the WinPcap is not installed. Or if you don’t want to monitor the traffic data on a real adapter, you can select this adapter.
  • Note: If the WinPcap has not been installed, there is only AthTek NetWalk loopback adapter available.

Capture packets in promiscuous mode

This checkbox allows you to specify that AthTek NetWalk should put the interface in promiscuous mode when monitoring/capturing packets. If you do not specify this, AthTek NetWalk will only capture the packets going to or from your computer (not all packets on your LAN segment).

Note: If some other process has put the interface in promiscuous mode you may be capturing in promiscuous mode even if you turn off this option.

Selecting adapter