To truly understand what’s happening on the network, you need to inspect the packets themselves. This episode introduces tools like Wireshark, tcpdump, and protocol analyzers that allow you to capture and analyze live traffic. You’ll learn how to filter by IP, port, or protocol, and how to identify patterns like retransmissions, failed handshakes, or application-layer issues.

We also cover port mirroring (SPAN) and tap devices for capturing traffic non-invasively. Understanding how to read and interpret packet flows gives you an advantage when diagnosing complex problems or validating policies. Packet analysis is an advanced skill—and this episode helps you begin mastering it.