Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

PortMapper VS tcpdump

Compare PortMapper VS tcpdump and see what are their differences

PortMapper logo PortMapper

Do you need to map a specific TCP or UDP port on your machine to another port on another machine?

tcpdump logo tcpdump

tcpdump is a common packet analyzer that runs under the command line.
  • PortMapper Landing page
    Landing page //
    2019-05-24
  • tcpdump Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-04-27

PortMapper features and specs

  • Freeware
    PortMapper is available as freeware, meaning it can be used without any cost, making it accessible for users who are looking for a budget-friendly solution.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    PortMapper provides an easy-to-use interface, allowing users to set up port forwarding without much technical expertise.
  • Lightweight
    The software is lightweight, ensuring it doesn't consume significant system resources, which is beneficial for performance.
  • Simple Configuration
    The software allows for quick and simple configuration of ports, useful for users who need to set up port forwarding quickly.

Possible disadvantages of PortMapper

  • Limited Advanced Features
    PortMapper lacks some advanced features that might be necessary for power users or more complex network setups.
  • Windows Only
    The application is only available for Windows, limiting its usability for users on other operating systems like macOS or Linux.
  • Lack of Support
    As a freeware product, PortMapper might not offer robust customer support or regular updates, which can be a drawback for users who may need assistance.
  • Potential Security Risks
    As with any port forwarding tool, there are potential security risks if not configured correctly, possibly exposing the network to vulnerabilities.

tcpdump features and specs

  • Powerful packet capturing
    tcpdump offers comprehensive capabilities for capturing network packets, providing detailed insights into network traffic, which makes it a powerful tool for network diagnostics and analysis.
  • Wide compatibility
    Being a widely used tool, tcpdump is compatible with numerous operating systems, including Linux, Unix, and macOS, ensuring accessibility across different platforms.
  • Filter flexibility
    tcpdump supports a wide range of filtering options that allow users to capture specific types of traffic, ensuring efficient and targeted packet capture.
  • Command-line interface
    tcpdump is a command-line tool, which provides advanced users the ability to script and automate tasks, making it highly efficient for those familiar with command-line operations.
  • Free and open-source
    tcpdump is open-source software, which means it is freely available for use and can be modified and distributed by anyone, fostering a community of users and contributors.

Possible disadvantages of tcpdump

  • Steep learning curve
    For users unfamiliar with command-line interfaces and packet-level networking, tcpdump can be difficult to learn due to its complex commands and options.
  • Minimal graphical interface
    tcpdump lacks a graphical user interface (GUI), which can make it less accessible for users who prefer visual tools over text-based interfaces.
  • Limited analysis capability
    While tcpdump is excellent for capturing packets, it offers limited built-in analysis features, requiring additional tools for comprehensive analysis of captured data.
  • High resource usage
    Running tcpdump with extensive capture options or on high-traffic networks can result in significant CPU and memory usage, potentially impacting system performance.
  • Security risks
    tcpdump requires root or elevated privileges to capture packets, which could pose security risks if not managed correctly, especially on sensitive systems.

PortMapper videos

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tcpdump videos

Tcpdump - Protocol Review 5 (TCP)

More videos:

  • Review - Tcpdump - Protocol Review 3 (UDP)
  • Review - Tcpdump - Protocol Review 4 (DNS) - Draft

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to PortMapper and tcpdump)
Monitoring Tools
29 29%
71% 71
Log Management
28 28%
72% 72
Productivity
32 32%
68% 68
Network & Admin
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

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tcpdump Reviews

6 Best Wireshark Alternatives for Windows and macOS
The quickness that you can have with tcpdump over Wireshark is awesome. It is one of those tools that many network administrators prefer whenever they need to take a look at the actual network packets that are being transmitted. The Tcpdump is not as feature rich as Wireshark but the output of its packet dump can be used as input by other programs. Moreover, It can be used...
Source: techwiser.com

What are some alternatives?

When comparing PortMapper and tcpdump, you can also consider the following products

Port Map - TheCodingMonkeys, authors of software like SubEthaEdit.

Wireshark - Wireshark is a network protocol analyzer for Unix and Windows. It lets you capture and interactively browse the traffic running on a computer network.

socat - socat is a relay for bidirectional data transfer between two independent data channels.

Ettercap - Ettercap is a suite for man in the middle attacks on LAN.

Packet Sender - Packet Sender can send and receive UDP, TCP, and SSL on the ports of your choosing.

netcat - Netcat is a featured networking utility which reads and writes data across network connections...