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Abstract

The network analyzer instruments are needed for monitoring, and fault identifications
in a local network. An application program in PC based can realize this instrument. The
information MAC (Medium Access Control) frames are needed to develops these applications.
In Microsoft Windows environment, there are three methods to capture the MAC frames in
the local network that are direct NIC (Network Interface Controller) chip access, real NIC
driver access, and virtual driver NDIS access. Virtual driver NDIS is used in this research,
because the methods are independent from kinds of NIC. The result of the research shows: the
application can to identify MAC address, IP address, protocol transport, services, the packet
content, and statistically to analyze every packet has passed in the local network. The
monitoring report can be store in a file. The application has successfully analyzed some local
network technology, a UTP-Ethernet LAN, a wireless LAN, and a dial-up connection.
Keywords: Network analyzer, MAC (Medium Access Control), NIC (Network Interface
Controller), and Virtual driver NDIS

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