Capture Settings

The Capture app settings allow you to designate file and slice sizes, and apply filters to capture and analyze only certain packet types. For example, you can create a Wi-Fi filter to capture only packets to and from a particular AP or client.

When you open Capture from Home and do not configure any filters, all packets from the switch or channel are captured. The default Wi-Fi capture saves the packets seen on channel 1.

If you open the Capture app from another NetAlly test app, Capture filters are automatically applied. Filters that can be applied from other apps include Wi-Fi Channel, Channel Width, and BSSID.

For example, the floating action menu on the Wi-Fi app's BSSID Details screen below contains the option to start a Wi-Fi Capture.

When the Capture app opens, filters are already set with the BSSID, Channel, and Channel Width from the Wi-Fi app.

The Capture settings are saved until you clear the filters or open the app with new filters applied.

Tap the settings icon in the Capture screen to configure capture settings.

File Size Limit: Tap this field to specify a size for the capture file. The default size is 1 MB, and largest size allowed is 1000 MB. The capture stops when the captured file reaches this size. When capture is running, the capture screen displays the current file size as data is captured.

Slice Size: Tap this field to select a specific frame slice size or enter a custom value. The Slice Size setting limits how much of each packet is captured. A smaller slice size is useful when you are interested in the packet’s header but do not need to see all the payload data. The default is Full Packet.

Wi-Fi Filters

Channel: Tap the channel button to set the channel on which packets are captured.

Channel Width: Tap to select a width of 20, 40, 80, or 160 MHz. The Capture app supports up to 160-MHz channel width Wi-Fi packet captures in the 5 and 6-GHz bands and up to 40-MHz channel width in the 2.4-GHz band.

BSSID/MAC: Enter a BSSID to capture only packets going to or from the target device.

Control, Data, and Management Frames and Beacons: All frame types are captured by default. Tap the toggle button for each frame type to disable its capture.