Network status window - how to configure what to display

[Dertarr]

Hello!

I'm testing ethernet hardware and need to know how many packets were sent and received through 100 Mbit ethernet card. There is a window that displays status of network connection. Sometimes it shows number of bytes that were sent/received, and sometimes - number of packets. Is there a way to configure that window always to show number of packets?

A picture is included to the post to make it clear what do I mean.
There is also a command "netstat -e" callable in command line, but It shows doubled number of packets in both directions

Paul.

 

[onesixski]

I would definitely go with some network monitoring software, even Microsoft has its own program (Microsoft Network Monitor, how original lol). Trying to get reliable/accurate data from that window is like trying to claim your PC's power from the Windows Experience Index.

 

[onesixski]

I recommend Colasoft Capsa and Wireshark as some nice 3rd-party analyzers/monitors

 

[solarmystic]

Just for discussion's sake, I've had this question for the longest time too, and discovered the answer by accident.

I was having some trouble with the ethernet NIC adapter on my laptop, and decided to update the drivers to the latest ones.

Before I updated it, it showed the sent and received data as bytes. After I updated it, it showed the data as packets. Just to be sure it wasn't a fluke, I performed a rollback to the previous drivers, and it showed the data as bytes again.

This has led me to the conclusion that the network card's driver plays a role in the type of data that it displays in that box. (The drivers would report the data to windows as packets or bytes, which is then shown on your status box)

 

[Dertarr]

solarmystic
Well, I've downloaded a fresh driver from Realtek website and installed it... and statistics window still shows bytes.

onesixski,
Wireshark is not good enough: it skips about half of all packets when traffic is intensive. Somehow it manages to collect all transferred bytes correctly, but only to show very weird results in it's own statistics window, like average "bytes per packet" parameter of 2500 or more. (In 100 Mbit network)
I'll check other recommended software. Thanks!