Advanced Computer Networks Lab
Assignment – 1
Instructions:
This is a self-taught assignment. In this assignment, you will/need to explore the Wireshark, which is a
packet sniffer and network protocol analyzer tool. You need to learn the Wireshark tool by your own.
Wireshark helps to capture network packets information of an ongoing communication and understands
the structure of different networking protocols.
You are required to perform all the experiments individually. Write the observations and analysis of all
these experiments in the Lab record/report and submit in hardcopy. Once done, submit the Lab
record/report.
Submission deadline: 11:10 AM, Friday, November 14th, 2025. Late submissions will have penalty. No
excuses will entertained for not completing the assignment on time.
Note: Try to be precise with your answers. No need to describe how the tools work. Cases of unfair means and
copying will be strictly punished.
Instructions:
Install Wireshark ([Link]) and learn how to capture packets and filter the required content.
This is a self taught assignment. You need to learn the Wireshark tool by your own. Refer any tutorial of your choice in
YouTube and learn the basics before you start solving the assignment. I have listed couple of good Wireshark Tutorial
Links for your reference:
Mastering Wireshark: The Complete Tutorial! [1 Hour]
[Link]
The Complete Wireshark Course: Go from Beginner to Advanced! [1 Hour]
[Link]
Wireshark Full Course | Wireshark Tutorial Beginner to Advane [3.5 Hour]
[Link]
Choose any specific application or website for this assignment from list of application provided in Table I (see below).
Each student needs to collect the traces for the considered application using Wireshark. Keep the Trace file with you. You
need to produce the same, when you are asked during the internal evaluation viva-voice. Make a note, the list of
applications provided in Table. 1 is not limited; you are allowed to choose any appropriate application of your choice
for capturing the trace.
You should carry out your experiments across different network conditions including different time(s) of the day and
locations (e.g., lab or hostel/home etc). Record the trace for few minutes only (preferably 2 – 3 minutes,; not more then
this), as the size of the captured trace will increase with the time and might crash the Wireshark application while opening
the file again.
It is advisable to provide only trace based description while answering the questions in this assignment. Don’t pour your
own imagination into the answers; all your answers should supported by the stats obtained from the captured trace. You
can attach screenshot of your experiment while writing the report.
If something is missing/incorrect in a problem description, clearly mention the assumption with your answer.
Be precise with your answers; there is no credit for being unnecessarily verbose (may award you negative marks for
the same). Unless specified otherwise, do not describe about the tool or application or protocol in general.
Questions:
1. List out all the protocols used by the application at different layers (only those which you can figure out from
traces).
2. Highlight and explain the observed values for various fields of the protocols. Example, Source or destination
IP address and port no., Ethernet/MAC address, protocol number, etc.
3. Calculate the following statistics from your traces while performing experiments at different time of the day:
Throughput, RTT, Packet size, No. of packets lost, number of UDP & TCP packets, number of responses
received with respect to one request sent. Report the observed values in your answer, preferably using tables.
4. Analyze packets using specific port number in your system say port 80 or other ports. Write your observation.
Table I
Application Application Application
NFSU Website Zoom Meeting Live Streaming
Google Meet IRCTC Google Maps