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Submitted By : Chris Bloom
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The OmniPeek Protospecs file (pspecs.xml) is used by the OmniPeek Console and the OmniEngine to interpret network protocols. We call it protospecs. Protospecs are run against every packet in real-time, and the result is used by many parts of the program. The most obvious protospecs driven feature is the protocol column in the packet list, but other features like the Expert and the VOIP views rely on protospecs to find specific layers in the packet to process.Because this file is an interpreted text file, it can be enhanced separately, and installed into existing versions of OmniPeek.
Protospecs are different than decoders. Protospecs find layers in a packet very quickly, while decoders do an exhaustive breakdown of the whole packet. The decoders are also interpreted text files that can be enhanced separate from the product.
This version of protospecs enhances the VLAN and MPLS layers to identify more protocols that flow over them, like IP and PPPoE. This support is becoming increasingly important, particularly by carriers who are carrying more data over the pipes, that are separated into different virtual networks by VLAN and MPLS tags.
Below is a screen shot showing how Ping and other protocols over a stacked VLAN are properly identified using this enhanced version of pspecs.xml.
![](/files/mypeek_esm_images/vlan_ip_ping1.png)
If further identification and analysis of these protocols is important to you, check out our VLAN and MPLS Stats plug-ins on the WPDN.
Important Notes:
- Before installing a new protospecs file, It is extremely important to back up the version you are running.
- Please keep in mind that the WPDN version is only supported through the WPDN. It is not supported by the product support team.
Installation
OmniPeek Console
- Quit OmniPeek
- Backup the pspecs.xml file at: C:ProgramFilesWildPacketsOmniPeek1033
- Unzip the download
- Copy the new file: to C:Program FilesWildPacketsOmniPeek1033
- Run OmniPeek
OmniEngine
- Stop the OmniEngine
- Backup the pspecs.xml file at: C:Program FilesWildPacketsOmniEngine1033
- Unzip the download
- Copy the new file: to C:Program FilesWildPacketsOmniEngine
- Start the OmniEngine
History
version 2.2.5.5 1/20/2010
- Made enhancements to latest product release of protospecs 2.2.5.3