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One of the chief reasons to attend BrainShare 2010 is the learning. It's an environment where in one session, you can find answers to questions that may have been plaguing you for weeks or months. It's like having the complete reference library on technology at your disposal.

In fact, this year at BrainShare, you'll get information overload because Laura Chappell* is presenting multiple sessions at the conference. If you're not familiar with Laura's work, her bio is extensive and her accomplishments are amazing.

Here's what she's talking about at BrainShare this year:

• This Network Sucks! A Case Study of Slow Data Transfers

  Based on an actual case study documented in Wireshark Network Analysis: the Official Wireshark Certified Network Analyst Study Guide (available at the BrainShare Store), this presentation points out the processes used to find the cause of poor network performance communication.

  Bring your laptop pre-loaded with Wireshark and follow along with this analysis session.

  Beginning with the ideal location(s) and method(s) to capture traffic, Laura guides you through the process of identifying the frustratingly elusive cause of performance problems. In this case, the only way to find the problem would be by looking at the traffic very, very, carefully-and apply a strong knowledge of TCP to point the finger at the correct culprit on this network. It's probably not who you'd think - players included Novell, Microsoft, Cisco, AT&T and Verizon.

• Hot Network Analysis and Troubleshooting Tricks

  Using the world's most popular analyzer, Wireshark (formerly Ethereal) that is available to all IT professionals under the GNU Manifesto explains the details. In legal terms, GNU software is protected by the GNU General Public License, or GPL, and by the GNU Lesser General Public License, or LGPL. The Linux kernel, which is subject to the GPL, benefits from this project (especially from the tools), but should not be seen as the same thing.">GNU Public License, Laura shows some of the hottest tips for analyzing and troubleshooting network performance.

  Demonstrations include: spotting WLAN interference and noise, evaluating unacknowledged data rates, graphing network errors, reassembling VoIP calls, using file sets, customizing analysis profiles and more. Learn to spot network issues faster and more accurately!

  Bring your laptop pre-loaded with Wireshark and follow along with this analysis session. These techniques and more are explained in Laura's new book, Wireshark Network Analysis: the Official Wireshark Certified Network Analyst Study Guide (available at the BrainShare Store).

• Introduction to WLAN Analysis and Troubleshooting

  Learn to capture WLAN traffic and spot the most common problems on wireless networks. Beginning with RF signal analysis and intentionally injecting interference onto the WLAN environment, Laura becomes the WLAN network nightmare.

  After that we begin delving into normal and abnormal WLAN communications-from the moment a wireless device comes up on a network to the point when WLAN retransmissions begin plaguing performance and the access point just 'drops out'. This is a fun session for anyone dealing with the wonderful world of wireless! For more information on WLAN analysis, refer to Chapter 26: Introduction to 802.11 (WLAN) Analysis in Wireshark Network Analysis: the Official Wireshark Certified Network Analyst Study Guide (available at the BrainShare Store).

  Bring your laptop pre-loaded with Wireshark and follow along with this analysis session. (Pre-load Wireshark-don't count on using the conference WLAN during the beginning of this session-Laura will be destroying the packets!)

• Introduction to VoIP Analysis and Troubleshooting

  In this introductory session Laura explores analysis and troubleshooting techniques for VoIP installations.

  Beginning with an overview of the most common elements of VoIP communications (signal and data traffic), Laura explains the VoIP handshake and methods used to graph call problems. Examining SIP and RTP traffic streams, you learn how the call parameters are established and where the most common problems occur-you'll even learn how to playback VoIP calls so you can hear the lousy quality too!

  For more information on VoIP analysis, refer to Chapter 27: Introduction to VoIP Analysis in Wireshark Network Analysis: the Official Wireshark Certified Network Analyst Study Guide (available at the BrainShare Store). Bring your laptop pre-loaded with Wireshark and follow along with this analysis session.

• Identifying and Analyzing Suspicious Traffic

  Scanning and reconnaissance processes often precedes network attacks or infections. In this session, Laura explains the methods used to identify network hosts, operating systems and services using TCP vulnerabilities, operating system "quirks" and even zombies.

  The key tool used to generate the evidence is Nmap (and the default GUI tool, Zenmap), which has matured to become the ultimate tool for network scanning. This presentation is based on the in-depth analysis of Nmap scanning traffic documented in Wireshark Network Analysis: the Official Wireshark Certified Network Analyst Study Guide (available at the BrainShare Store).

  Learn how scanners identify filtered ports, open ports, closed ports and skip around/over/under firewalls. Bring your laptop pre-loaded with Wireshark and follow along with this analysis session.

Add to Laura's sessions the convenience of on-site certifications, an exhibit floor that gives you access to the industry's most skilled personnel, parties every evening (a great place to network and have fun), and a slew of other learning programs, and you understand why BrainShare 2010 is where you need to be in March.

As you can see, Novell BrainShare 2010 is jammed with information-but you're going to need to be there to capitalize on this opportunity. Sign up now! Plus, take home a free Novell Self-Study Kit (a $495.00 value) by registering for BrainShare 2010 in Salt Lake City (limited time offer, while supplies last). We look forward to seeing you at Novell BrainShare 2010!

*Laura Chappell is the Founder of Chappell University, Founder of Wireshark University and a long-time BrainShare geek. As a network analyst, Laura lives eats and breathes at the packet level. For the last 5 months she has been chained to her desk assimilating millions of packets from thousands of networks to write the ultimate guide to network analysis - Wireshark Network Analysis: the Official Wireshark Certified Network Analyst Study Guide (available at the BrainShare bookstore). Laura chose to release her book publicly at BrainShare so get her to sign your copy before they run out!

Disclaimer: As with everything else at Cool Solutions, this content is definitely not supported by Novell (so don't even think of calling Support if you try something and it blows up).

It was contributed by a community member and is published "as is." It seems to have worked for at least one person, and might work for you. But please be sure to test, test, test before you do anything drastic with it.