# Packet Trace

Use this diagnostic tool to intercept and log a time-stamped sequence of packets passing over the network or part of the network. You would typically run the “packet trace” to log traffic for a limited period of time, such as during a phone call.

The packet trace files are captured in PCAP format and can be viewed in a network protocol analyzer such as Wireshark.

## Global tcpdump

The global tcpdump captures traffic on all network interfaces in trace files named global_<system name>.pcapX.

The global tcpdump rotates the trace file automatically every 200 MB and cycles through 7 files (pcap0, pcap1, …pcap6, pcap0, pcap1 ...) until it is manually stopped.

Note: Capturing will automatically stop if the available disk space is less than 5 GB.

## Filter Options

Use Filter Options to limit the capture to packets matching specific parameters.

When entering filter options, you can use letters, numbers, and spaces, as well as boolean operators such as OR and AND. You cannot use dashes, hyphens, underscores or special characters such as &, |, or !.

Examples:

- udp and port 5060(to trace all SIP packets)
- host 1.2.3.4 (to trace all packets, including RTP, from a particular host)
- host 1.2.3.4 and port 5060 (to trace SIP packets from a particular host)

## Signalling Capture

The signalling capture only includes decrypted SIP and WebRTC signalling traffic in files named signalling_<system name>_<date and time>.pcap.

The signalling capture rotates the trace files every 200 MB. The 7 most recent files are kept with older one being automatically deleted until manually stopped.

## Start Packet Trace

To run a packet trace:

1. On the MBG main page, click the Troubleshooting tab, and click Diagnostics.
2. Beside Packet trace, click Run.
3. Select the Enable global packet capture check box to enable both captures.
4. Select the Enable signalling capture check box to enable only the signalling capture.

## Stop Packet Trace

To stop a packet trace:

1. Clear the Enable global packet capture check box to stop both captures.
2. Clear the Enable signalling capture check box to only stop the signalling capture.

## Download PCAP files

The packet trace files are captured in PCAP format and listed at the bottom of the screen. To download a specific global or signalling PCAP file, click on the file from the list.

To download all available PCAP files and associated MBG logs, click Fetch all.

Note: This operation may take several minutes to complete and place significant load on the system.

## Delete PCAP files

To delete a specific global or signalling PCAP file, click the icon beside the file.

To delete all PCAP files, click Delete all.

Note: PCAP files can only be deleted if both captures have been stopped.
Parent topic: Diagnostics