PC Bootup Baseline Setup

I’m sure everyone has heard of the old saying “garbage in, garbage out”. When it comes to baselining, troubleshooting, or any documentation this is the golden rule.

So I thought I would create a few videos explaining setup and analysis. The first one is the Bootup Baseline which usually applies to computers, but I have performed the same exercise on network equipment and appliances.

Wireshark Video‑Streaming Traffic Analysis: Deep‑Dive Techniques for Real‑Time Packet Inspection

 I just finished diving into this Wireshark and video‑streaming walkthrough, and it genuinely sharpened the way I look at network behavior. As someone who’s always been curious about how software communicates behind the scenes, this video felt like a guided tour through the exact packets and commands that make a streaming workflow tick. It’s not just a demo—it’s a practical breakdown of how to observe, interpret, and troubleshoot real traffic in motion.

What stood out to me immediately was how clearly the creator explained the reasoning behind each Wireshark configuration choice. Instead of just showing which buttons to click, the video digs into *why* those settings matter. Watching the capture filter isolate Contacam’s commands made me appreciate how much noise exists in a typical capture, and how powerful it is to trim that down to the essentials. It made the whole process feel accessible, even when the underlying protocols get technical. I also appreciated that the video stays focused on unencrypted traffic. That might sound like a limitation, but it’s actually a smart move. By avoiding encrypted applications, the creator keeps the learning experience clean and visual—perfect for understanding the fundamentals before jumping into more complex, encrypted environments. It helped me build confidence in reading raw packet flows without getting overwhelmed. As the walkthrough progressed, I found myself pausing often to try the same steps on my own setup. Seeing the exact commands Contacam sends and how Wireshark captures them gave me a much deeper understanding of how video‑streaming software behaves when everything is working—and more importantly, when something isn’t. It’s the kind of hands‑on clarity that’s hard to get from documentation alone. Overall, this video is a must‑watch if you’re trying to level up your network‑analysis skills or simply want to understand how video‑streaming applications communicate under the hood. I walked away with practical techniques I can apply immediately, and a stronger grasp of Wireshark’s capabilities. If you’re curious about protocol behavior, troubleshooting inefficiencies, or just love seeing technology exposed at the packet level, this one’s absolutely worth your time.

Enjoy

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Why Customer Lifetime Value Begins on the Network
Network telemetry is actually business revenue telemetry.

It's Just a Game (Paul Smith)

 

I have never been much of a gamer, at least not since PacMan and Space Invaders disappeared from the arcades (shortly before the arcades disappeared from shopping malls, which was not long before shopping malls went out of favor). I have played Call of Duty a few times, but without my son’s Med Kit to save me, I would not have lasted long. The life-like qualities of this and other newer games are astonishing.

How to Setup Wireshark for Troubleshooting and Analysis (chris greer)

Getting started with Wireshark can be overwhelming. There are many options, toolbars, menus and settings that can help when analyzing networks and applications, but which ones should we configure first? Which ones can help when getting started with Wireshark?

In this video we will dig into the top settings every analyst should use when packet digging with Wireshark. We will learn how to setup the time column, a new profile, save a filter button, and adjust some coloring rules. These settings can help us when troubleshooting slow networks, analyzing traffic for security forensics, or learning more about the underlying protocols that underpin the systems that drive our business.

Analyzing Microsoft SQL Server performance using Wireshark

Back in 2012 I posted a video that showed how we can use Wireshark and Excel to analyse SQL Server response times. It's the third most popular video I've posted! High time for an update.

Although the procedure I described still works, there is a far quicker way to achieve the same result. To give you a comparison, the 2012 procedure required three 10-minute YouTube videos. The revised procedure is described here in a single 3-minute video.