RE: Caching a sniffer

From: Shawn Jackson (sjackson_at_horizonusa.com)
Date: 03/25/04

  • Next message: Eric: "RE: Need help on Spyware"
    Date: Thu, 25 Mar 2004 08:36:31 -0800
    To: "Andrew Shore" <andrew.shore@holistecs.com>, "Patrick Toomey" <ptoomey3@mac.com>
    
    

    >A switch is not a hub/router. In fact it is a micro segmented bridge.

    It's nice I get so much attention, you all sure know how to make a man
    feel
    wanted :-). Now let the rebuttal begin.

    As my response to Fernando, which hopefully will get posted to the list
    soon
    then this message, states that switches have numerous functionality and
    systems that operate at higher layers of the OSI model then just 2. As
    with
    most network connected devices they need to have functionality on other
    layers
    besides the one where their core functionality resides. Case in point,
    bridges
    merely forward traffic destined to address on other interfaces, limiting
    broadcast
    in each segment, this is the core functionality of a switch. I will
    retract my
    earlier statement in place of this one which better suites the core
    functionality
    of the switch, in this case you guys win.

    With that stated, switches can make decisions on traffic based on IP
    information which resides at the Network layer (layer 3) of the OSI
    model, as
    opposed to MAC address information which resides at the Data-Link layer
    (layer 2) of the OSI model. Most switches provide IGMP functionality for
    systems
    to announce they multicast group membership, which is all layer 3 data.
    Some
    switches allow you to set ACL's or security based on IP information, not
    just
    MAC or layer 2 information. Some switch can also make routing or
    'gateway of last resort' decisions.

    >A switch operates at layer 2 of the OSI model i.e. MAC address layer.

    Layer 2 of the OSI model is the Data Link layer. LLC and MAC are logical
    parts
    of that layer and not layers themselves.

    >Therefore if someone has plugged a scanner into a network point they
    will not be
    >able to sniff any useful information from the network unless that
    person has admin
    >access to the switch. You can check this by ensuring that none of the
    ports on the
    >switches are in span mode

    Through ARP poising, brought up by David, and MacOf which I mentioned
    allow people
    to sniff traffic on a switched network. You don't need to be using SPAN
    to sniff
    traffic, that just the way us admins do it.

    Shawn Jackson
    Systems Administrator
    Horizon USA
    1190 Trademark Dr #107
    Reno NV 89521

    www.horizonusa.com
    Email: sjackson@horizonusa.com
    Phone: (775) 858-2338
           (800) 325-1199 x338

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  • Next message: Eric: "RE: Need help on Spyware"

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