This is a static archive of our old Q&A Site. Please post any new questions and answers at ask.wireshark.org.

802.11ac capture

0

Hey

Are there any adapters supporting 802.11ac packet capture today? Any that wireshark supports?

JP

asked 17 Dec '12, 08:58

JP-NYC's gravatar image

JP-NYC
1111
accept rate: 0%


One Answer:

0

That's not primarily a problem of Wireshark, but rather a problem of driver support for the OS.

Windows
The driver needs to be compliant with WinPcap to be able to capture packets in promiscuous mode. If you want to enable monitor mode, you need a driver that is fully NDIS6 compliant. And even then it is uncertain if you can enable monitor mode. So, hard business on Windows.

Linux
You need support for such a device in the kernel, which might be hard for a standard that is barely released.

Netgear offers a 802.11ac adapter (http://www.netgear.com/home/products/wireless-adapters/ultimate-wireless-adapters/a6200.aspx#), however I'm not sure if there is a Linux driver available for that.

You might get better answers to your question in the BackTrack or Aircrakc-ng forum. As soon as a new adapter works with one of those systems/tools, it will work with Wireshark on Linux as well.

UPDATE

Here is a list of 802.11ac 'compatible' devices

http://wikidevi.com/wiki/List_of_802.11ac_Hardware

For the few USB adapters you can read: Linux driver none

Regards
Kurt

answered 17 Dec '12, 10:22

Kurt%20Knochner's gravatar image

Kurt Knochner ♦
24.8k1039237
accept rate: 15%

edited 17 Dec '12, 12:44

And WinPcap doesn't handle NDIS 6, so it can't enable monitor mode in any case; we don't support monitor mode on WIndows.

(18 Dec '12, 20:32) Guy Harris ♦♦

Of course you are right. I should have mentioned Microsoft Network Monitor in conjunction with NDIS6 and monitor mode. It is possible there if the driver supports it.

(19 Dec '12, 00:19) Kurt Knochner ♦