Template:Short description Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:More citations needed A protocol analyzer is a tool (hardware or software) used to capture and analyze signals and data traffic over a communication channel. Such a channel varies from a local computer bus to a satellite link, that provides a means of communication using a standard communication protocol (networked or point-to-point). Each type of communication protocol has a different tool to collect and analyze signals and data.
Specific types of protocol analyzers include:
- A telecom network protocol analyzer
- A network packet analyzer such as Wireshark<ref name="mer22" />
- A bus analyzer
- An IP load tester