Wi-Fi Packet Capture Tutorial

Note

This document is automatically translated using AI. Please excuse any detailed errors. The official English version is still in progress.

During wireless debugging, when connection failures, disconnections, authentication anomalies, or unstable network performance occur and logs cannot explain the specific reasons, packet capture can provide necessary underlying information to help identify the source of the problem.

Wi-Fi packet capture refers to air packets, used to record 802.11 data frames in wireless networks for analyzing device connection processes, network performance, and protocol behavior. At the same time, by observing the traffic characteristics of upper-layer protocols (such as DHCP, TCP/UDP) carried in the frames, it can assist in analyzing network configuration and performance issues.

In addition, packet capture is also applicable for analyzing wireless link behavior, such as handshake processes, channel interference, and frame retransmissions, and is a key means for locating Wi-Fi problems and verifying communication correctness.

This article will introduce detailed tutorials on using Wireshark and Omnipeek to capture Wi-Fi air packets under different systems (Windows and Linux).

Wireshark

Wireshark is suitable for Windows and Linux systems, with comprehensive functions, good at protocol analysis and regular debugging, supports cross-platform use, and is suitable for most development scenarios.

Omnipeek

Omnipeek only supports Windows systems, and is stronger in real-time monitoring of wireless networks, multi-source data analysis, and visual statistics, suitable for professional analysis in complex network environments.

Omnipeek Official User Guide

The Omnipeek official tutorial covers a wide range. If you want to get started with Wi-Fi packet capture more directly, you can refer to third-party tutorials, such as:

Note

The following content is available in Chinese only.

Omnipeek Packet Capture Tutorial on Windows

Note

Omnipeek is commercial software, and a license must be purchased for use. Based on general development and debugging needs, this tutorial recommends using Wireshark for Wi-Fi packet capture.