What is TCPDump used for?

TCPDump is a powerful command-line packet analyzer tool used to capture and display the packet headers on a network. It is particularly valuable for network administrators and security professionals who need to understand network traffic for troubleshooting, monitoring, or analyzing network performance. The command-line interface allows for fine-tuned control over the packet capturing process, enabling users to filter traffic based on specific criteria, such as host, port, or protocol.

The ability to use various options in TCPDump makes it highly versatile for detailed network analysis, allowing users to customize their capture sessions according to their needs. This capability is essential for deep packet inspection and understanding the flow of data within a network, which is crucial for maintaining security and optimizing performance.

In contrast, other options present tools or functions that do not align with the primary purpose of TCPDump. A user-friendly GUI for packet capture might refer to tools like Wireshark, but TCPDump itself is not GUI-based. Database management tools focus on managing and organizing data within databases, which is not the function of TCPDump. Network scanning tools typically evaluate networks for vulnerabilities or active devices, which is a different task as compared to what TCPDump accomplishes through packet capturing. Thus, the identification of TCPDump as a command-line interface tool