Sniffer (protocol analyzer)

Sniffer
Original author(s)
Developer(s)Network General
Initial releaseDecember 1986
Written inC, 8086 assembler
Operating systemMS-DOS
Typeprotocol analyzer

The Sniffer[1] was a computer network packet and protocol analyzer developed and first sold in 1986 by Network General Corporation[2] of Mountain View, CA. By 1994 the Sniffer had become the market leader[3] in high-end protocol analyzers. According to SEC 10-K filings[4][5][6] and corporate annual reports,[7] between 1986 and March 1997 about $933M worth of Sniffers and related products and services had been sold as tools for network managers and developers.

The Sniffer was the antecedent of several generations of network protocol analyzers, of which the current most popular is Wireshark.

  1. ^ Joch, Alan (2001-07-23). "Network Sniffers". Computerworld. Retrieved 2021-02-16.
  2. ^ "May 13: Network General Corporation Founded | This Day in History | Computer History Museum". www.computerhistory.org. Retrieved 2021-02-16.
  3. ^ Musthaler, Linda (1994-02-21). "Merger will hone net analysis focus". Network World. Vol. 11, no. 8. International Data Group. p. 35.
  4. ^ "Network General Corporation FY95 10-K". SEC Edgar database. June 28, 1995.
  5. ^ "Network General Corporation FY96 10-K". SEC Edgar database. July 25, 1996.
  6. ^ "Network General Corporation FY97 10-K". SEC Edgar database. June 27, 1997.
  7. ^ "Network General Corp. annual reports 1989-1993, 1995, 1997" – via Internet Archive.