 - 1) In a network, promiscuous mode allows a network device to intercept and read each network packet that arrives in its entirety. This mode of operation is sometimes given to a network snoop server that captures and saves all packets for analysis (for example, for monitoring network usage).
2) In an Ethernet local area network (LAN), promiscuous mode is a mode of operation
in which every data packet transmitted can be received
and read by a network adapter. Promiscuous mode must be supported by each network adapter as well as by the input/output driver in the host operating system. Promiscuous mode is often used to
monitor network activity.
Promiscuous mode is the
opposite of non-promiscuous mode. When a data packet is transmitted in
non-promiscuous mode, all the LAN devices "listen to" the data to determine if
the network address included in the data packet is theirs. If it isn't, the data packet is passed onto the next LAN device until the device with the correct network address is reached. That device then receives and reads the data.
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Learn more about Monitoring Network Traffic and Network Forensics |
| LAST UPDATED: |
04 Jun 2007
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