How to Run Wireshark on Ubuntu

When it comes to troubleshooting network issues, Wireshark is an essential tool that allows you to capture and analyze network packets. However, many users encounter problems when trying to run Wireshark on their Linux systems, including Ubuntu. In this article, we will explore some of the common issues and solutions for running Wireshark on Ubuntu.

Why Is My Wireshark Not Capturing Packets?

One of the most common issues that users face is that Wireshark may not display any packets after starting a capture using their existing 802.11 client card. This problem can occur even when you are running as an administrator, especially in Windows systems.

Running Wireshark as Administrator

To overcome this issue, you need to force Wireshark to run as an administrator. To do this, right-click on the Wireshark.exe file and select 'Run as administrator.' This will ensure that Wireshark has the necessary rights to list interfaces and capture packets.

Is It Possible to Install Wireshark Without a GUI?

Another common question that users ask is whether it's possible to install Wireshark without a graphical user interface (GUI) and run it from the command line. Unfortunately, the answer is no. Wireshark is a GUI application by design and requires a GUI to function.

Accessing Help Information in Wireshark

If you need help using Wireshark, there are several ways to access help information. One way is to simply enter the command 'wireshark -h' in your terminal or command prompt. This will display the help information available from Wireshark.

Installing Wireshark on Ubuntu

To install Wireshark on Ubuntu, you can use the following command: `sudo apt-get install Wireshark`. Once installed, you can run Wireshark and start capturing packets by selecting an interface in the welcome screen and clicking on 'Capture' → 'Start' or by clicking the first toolbar button.

Starting a Packet Capture with Wireshark

There are several ways to start a packet capture with Wireshark. One way is to double-click on an interface in the welcome screen, which will automatically start the capture process. Alternatively, you can select 'Capture' → 'Start' or click the first toolbar button.

In conclusion, running Wireshark on Ubuntu is a straightforward process that requires only a few steps. By following this guide, you should be able to install and run Wireshark without any issues. Remember to always run Wireshark as an administrator to ensure that it has the necessary rights to capture packets.

Run wireshark ubuntu