Network Instruments Observer - Manual (Page 12)

Getting Started with Observer Modes and Tools
6 Observer® Quick Start Manual
After storing the addresses and network names, Observer will
automatically use the stored names in queries.
1. Click Tools > Discover Network Names or the icon on the Observer
toolbar.
2. Click Mode Commands > Setup or the icon on the Discover
Network Names toolbar.
3. Fill in your IP information or check the “Passively discover IP addresses”
checkbox.
4. Click Mode Commands > Start Mode or the icon on the Discover
Network Names toolbar.
If you have not checked the “Passively Discover IP Addresses” checkbox,
Observer will ARP all addresses twice within the range you’ve specified, then
passively listen for responses. If you’ve chosen to passively discover IP
addresses, Observer will identify each station the first time the station sends
out a packet on the network and add the station’s address to the list.
The advantage of passive discovery is that you don’t have to know what
your local net range is. The disadvantage is that if a station generates
no traffic during the time when Discover Network Names is running,
Observer won’t identify it.
Either way, once the discovery is complete, you can automatically generate IP
aliases for your addresses by clicking the R ESOLVE IP button and then clicking
the S AVE A LIASES button.