What is the purpose of using a packet sniffer in network troubleshooting?

• A. To block unwanted traffic.
• B. To monitor battery usage on devices.
• C. To encrypt data in transit.
• D. To analyze network traffic and diagnose connection issues.

Answer: (D)

A packet sniffer captures packets traveling on the network and decodes their headers and contents to show exactly what occurred on the wire. In troubleshooting, that view lets you verify whether the expected traffic is present, happening at the right times, and reaching the correct destination. You can see the sequence of packets, delays, losses, retransmissions, and protocol-level errors, which helps pinpoint where a problem—such as a broken route, misconfigured device, or congested link—exists. Filtering by host, protocol, or port focuses on a specific connection, making it a powerful diagnostic tool for diagnosing connectivity issues. Blocking traffic is the job of a firewall or access-control device, monitoring battery usage isn’t about diagnosing network problems, and encryption protects data rather than enabling analysis, so a packet sniffer is best used for analyzing network traffic to diagnose connection issues.