Collecting Data Using AthTek NetWalk

Although packet sniffing is not as popular as the use of Web logs, Web beacons and JavaScript tags, it is still one of the most sophisticated forms of data collection. A packet sniffer is a layer of software that installs on a network, and runs “on top” of the web server layer data. Otherwise, it can also be a physical piece of hardware you put in your data center, and all traffic is routed to web server through the packet sniffer solution.

One provider offering packet sniffing and web analytics solutions is AthTek NetWalk. Some sites, such as the SiteSpect use a interesting way to take advantage of packet sniffers, use the technology for multiple testing, eliminating dependence on the markup of a web page for testing.

One has to follow five steps to collect data through packet sniffing:
1. Client types your URL in a browser.
2. The request goes through a packet sniffer software or hardware which includes attributes of the application which can send back more data about the visitor packet sniffer.
3. Since then the request is routed to the web server by the packet sniffer.
4. The request passes through the analyzer package back to the client. Sniffer packet capture information on the last page and is stored. Some providers detector package label solutions include JavaScript code that can send back more data on the person visiting the packet sniffer.
5. The packet sniffer sends the page in the visitor’s browser.

The benefits of using packet sniffer and their mechanism of data collection are:
1. Since all data passes through the packet analyzer, first, eliminates the need to use JavaScript tags for your website, or in theory, to play your website at all.
2. The time to market is a bit longer than with JavaScript marked because it relies on IT to approve and install additional software and hardware in the data center. Although the time required is less than that required for other methods.
3. A large amount of data can be collected at the moment – far more than the labeling standard JavaScript. For example, server errors, bandwidth, all technical data and commercial information related to the page will be available. Packet detection provides the most complete data possible.
4. The nature of the solutions is such that it will be able to use only first part of “cookies.”

Packet sniffing has certain limitations, the data collectors should be aware of.
1. Most companies find it difficult to make a case and convince the IT department to add an additional layer of software on Web servers or the physical installation of hardware in their data centers, high-profile route all web traffic through these solutions. Sniffers also create a layer between the client and the website, which can pose problems and create obstacles.
2. Packet sniffing packet includes collecting raw traffic internet web server, which can pose two problems: (1) non-trivial amounts of work package configuration solutions detectors to filter only the data needed for all raw data. (2) The second challenge is about privacy. The raw data captures all data, including personally identifiable information such as passwords, names, addresses and credit card numbers. Privacy minutes required stress testing and legal review.
3. The detection solution packages still require JavaScript tags to collect all the data really needed for optimal analysis. For example, packet sniffers would not get the data cached pages (as no request is sent to the web server). The data files from Adobe Flash or Ajax may not be listed as well. In Rich Internet applications very interactive file on the visitor’s browser and then many interactions occur in the user’s browser that are invisible to traditional packet sniffers (again because not send multimedia interactions back request in server). The same goes for the main structure and the metadata about the pages through sheer application packet sniffer.
4. If someone has a lot of web servers or clients, he may be felt in many networks, packet sniffing can be expensive because the packet sniffing solution would have to be installed in the software or hardware on all networks.

Packet detection methods are highly specialized implementations. Currently AthTek NetWalk supports almost all network analysis of various LAN types. For best performance possible, JavaScript needs to be combined with markup. It is recommended that packet sniffers should be considered only if JavaScript web logs labeling or fall short of meeting the needs of an organization’s data.

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