Ostinato

Computers connected to a network with Internet access need to be kept under surveillance so that data is as safe as possible. Networks on the other hand require a lot more attention, with a large variety of tools for analysis and debugging. Ostinato is one such tool, meant to provide detailed info regarding available ports and network packet traffic.

The application requires no installation so you can easily keep it on a removable storage device and analyze data from any computer you connect it to.

Not much effort was put into visual design, and truth be told it's better off this way because confusion is not created and all features are cleverly spread throughout the interface. Little customization options are available with both available panels being detachable so you can arrange them as you see fit.

The main features of the application are oriented towards monitoring and displaying thorough incoming and outgoing network packets. In the “Ports and Streams” panel you can view available and used ports, along with IP and device they are used by.

Streams can be created for any of the available ports, with the possibility to enable or disable them, save them to file or import an already existing one. Advanced users will feel mostly at home with the available editing options that let you select protocols to be used, numbers and rates, as well as view payload data or MAC source and destination.

What's more, the application keeps track of all ongoing activities, displaying them in a real-time updating table with info on all selected ports. Amongst others, you gain access to details such as sent or received frames, bytes and error items.

Taking everything into consideration, we can say that Ostinato can provide useful info on networks, all wrapped up in a simple and intuitive interface. Implemented features also offer some degree of control over sent and received network packets, managing to do a good job overall.