14 DAY TRIAL // The gold version of Microsoft Network Monitor 3.2 went live on the Download Center on September 16, 2008. Version 3.2 marks the evolution of the Network Protocol Analyzer out of the beta stage and the delivery of the successor of v 3.1 which was released in mid-2007. As the label implies, the Network Monitor 3.2 is a tool designed to permit the capturing and protocol analysis of network traffic, according to the official description offered by the Redmond company.
Microsoft indicated that version 3.2 is set up as an update to v3.1, while at the same time having been rebuilt from the grounds up compared to Network Monitor 2.x. In June 2008, Network Monitor 3.2 became available for download via Microsoft Connect as a Beta release. The tool is designed to integrate seamlessly with Windows Vista, Windows XP and Windows Sever 2008 and in this regard comes in three flavors: 32-bit, 64-bit and IA64.
“The Network Monitor core engine has been decoupled from the parser set. To install the full Network Monitor 3.2 product: run netmonsetup.exe; you will be prompted first to install the core engine (follow the installation directions - make sure you close existing instances of netmon.exe, nmcap.exe and any running NMAPI applications); next you will be prompted to install the parser package. Follow the installation directions,” Microsoft revealed.
Netmon 3.2 delivers a range of improvements since 3.1. In addition to the overhauled graphical user interface, version 3.2 also introduces Process Tracking (allowing the user to view and monitor all the processes on a computer that act as sources of network traffic); but also PCAP capture file support; capture engine re-architecture; extensive parser set (over 300 protocols); NM API; enhanced parser management and frame truncation support.
“With the release of Network Monitor 3.2 we plan to do all of our parser development as an open source project here. We will be releasing parser packages for Microsoft Protocols on a regular schedule. All parser issues will be tracked, assigned, and fixed on CodePlex first. Then on a regular schedule, we will post a new installer package which will update your NM3.2 parsers,” stated Paul ELong, from the Network Monitor Team.
Microsoft Network Monitor 3.2 RTM is available for download here.