path: root/docbook/wsug_src/WSUG_app_files.asciidoc

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[[AppFiles]]

[appendix]
== Files and Folders

[[ChAppFilesCaptureFilesSection]]

=== Capture Files

To understand which information will remain available after the captured packets
are saved to a capture file, it's helpful to know a bit about the capture file
contents.

Wireshark uses the
link:https://github.com/pcapng/pcapng[pcapng] file
format as the default format to save captured packets. It is very flexible
but other tools may not support it.

Wireshark also supports the
link:https://wiki.wireshark.org/Development/LibpcapFileFormat[libpcap] file
format. This is a much simpler format and is well established. However, it has
some drawbacks: it's not extensible and lacks some information that would be
really helpful (e.g. being able to add a comment to a packet such as ``the
problems start here'' would be really nice).

In addition to the libpcap format, Wireshark supports several different capture
file formats. However, the problems described above also applies for these
formats.

[[ChIOFileContentSection]]

==== Libpcap File Contents

At the start of each libpcap capture file some basic information is stored like
a magic number to identify the libpcap file format. The most interesting
information of this file start is the link layer type (Ethernet, 802.11,
MPLS, etc).

The following data is saved for each packet:

* The timestamp with millisecond resolution

* The packet length as it was ``on the wire''

* The packet length as it's saved in the file

* The packet's raw bytes

A detailed description of the libpcap file format can be found at:
link:$$https://wiki.wireshark.org/Development/LibpcapFileFormat$$[]

[[ChIOFileNotContentSection]]

==== Not Saved in the Capture File

You should also know the things that are _not saved_ in capture files:

* Current selections (selected packet, ...)

* Name resolution information. See <<ChAdvNameResolutionSection>> for details
+
--
Pcapng files can optionally save name resolution information. Libpcap files
can't. Other file formats have varying levels of support.
--

* The number of packets dropped while capturing

* Packet marks set with ``Edit/Mark Packet''

* Time references set with ``Edit/Time Reference''

* The current display filter

[[ChAppFilesConfigurationSection]]

=== Configuration Files and Folders

Wireshark uses a number of files and folders while it is running. Some of these
reside in the personal configuration folder and are used to maintain information
between runs of Wireshark, while some of them are maintained in system areas.

[TIP]
====
A list of the folders Wireshark actually uses can be found under the _Folders_
tab in the dialog box shown when you select _About Wireshark_ from the _Help_
menu.
====

The content format of the configuration files is the same on all platforms.
However, to match the different policies for Unix and Windows platforms,
different folders are used for these files.

[[AppFilesTabFolders]]
.Configuration files and folders overview
[options="header"]
|===============
|File/Folder|Description|Unix/Linux folders|Windows folders
|_preferences_|Settings from the Preferences dialog box.|/etc/wireshark.conf, $HOME/.wireshark/preferences|%WIRESHARK%\wireshark.conf, %APPDATA%\Wireshark\preferences
|_recent_|Recent GUI settings (e.g. recent files lists).|$HOME/.wireshark/recent|%APPDATA%\Wireshark\recent
|_cfilters_|Capture filters.|$HOME/.wireshark/cfilters|%WIRESHARK%\cfilters, %APPDATA%\Wireshark\cfilters
|_dfilters_|Display filters.|$HOME/.wireshark/dfilters|%WIRESHARK%\dfilters, %APPDATA%\Wireshark\dfilters
|_colorfilters_|Coloring rules.|$HOME/.wireshark/colorfilters|%WIRESHARK%\colorfilters, %APPDATA%\Wireshark\colorfilters
|_$$disabled_protos$$_|Disabled protocols.|$HOME/.wireshark/disabled_protos|%WIRESHARK%\disabled_protos, %APPDATA%\Wireshark\disabled_protos
|_ethers_|Ethernet name resolution.|/etc/ethers, $HOME/.wireshark/ethers|%WIRESHARK%\ethers, %APPDATA%\Wireshark\ethers
|_manuf_|Ethernet name resolution.|/etc/manuf, $HOME/.wireshark/manuf|%WIRESHARK%\manuf, %APPDATA%\Wireshark\manuf
|_hosts_|IPv4 and IPv6 name resolution.|/etc/hosts, $HOME/.wireshark/hosts|%WIRESHARK%\hosts, %APPDATA%\Wireshark\hosts
|_services_|Network services.|/etc/services, $HOME/.wireshark/services|%WIRESHARK%\services, %APPDATA%\Wireshark\services
|_subnets_|IPv4 subnet name resolution.|/etc/subnets, $HOME/.wireshark/subnets|%WIRESHARK%\subnets, %APPDATA%\Wireshark\subnets
|_ipxnets_|IPX name resolution.|/etc/ipxnets, $HOME/.wireshark/ipxnets|%WIRESHARK%\ipxnets, %APPDATA%\Wireshark\ipxnets
|_plugins_|Plugin directories.|/usr/share/wireshark/plugins, /usr/local/share/wireshark/plugins, $HOME/.wireshark/plugins|%WIRESHARK%\plugins\<version>,%APPDATA%\Wireshark\plugins
|_temp_|Temporary files.|Environment: TMPDIR|Environment: TMPDIR or TEMP
|===============

[float]
===== Windows folders
%APPDATA% points to the personal configuration folder, e.g.: _C:\Documents and
Settings\<username>\Application Data_ (details can be found at:
<<ChWindowsProfiles>>),

%WIRESHARK% points to the Wireshark program folder, e.g.: _C:\Program
Files\Wireshark_

[float]
===== Unix/Linux folders
The _/etc_ folder is the global Wireshark configuration folder. The folder
actually used on your system may vary, maybe something like: _/usr/local/etc_.

$HOME is usually something like: _/home/<username>_

[float]
===== File contents

_preferences/wireshark.conf_::
This file contains your Wireshark preferences, including defaults for capturing
and displaying packets. It is a simple text file containing statements of the
form:
+
--
----
variable: value
----

The settings from this file are read in at program start and written to disk
when you press the Save button in the ``Preferences'' dialog box.
--

_recent_::
This file contains various GUI related settings like the main window position
and size, the recent files list and such. It is a simple text file containing
statements of the form:
+
--
----
variable: value
----

It is read at program start and written at program exit.
--

_cfilters_::
This file contains all the capture filters that you have defined and saved. It
consists of one or more lines, where each line has the following format:
+
--
----
"<filter name>" <filter string>
----

The settings from this file are read in at program start and written to disk
when you press the Save button in the ``Capture Filters'' dialog box.
--

_dfilters_::
This file contains all the display filters that you have defined and saved. It
consists of one or more lines, where each line has the following format:
+
--
----
"<filter name>" <filter string>
----

The settings from this file are read in at program start and written to disk
when you press the Save button in the ``Display Filters'' dialog box.
--

_colorfilters_::
This file contains all the color filters that you have defined and saved. It
consists of one or more lines, where each line has the following format:
+
--
----
@<filter name>@<filter string>@[<bg RGB(16-bit)>][<fg RGB(16-bit)>]
----

The settings from this file are read in at program start and written to disk
when you press the Save button in the ``Coloring Rules'' dialog box.
--

_$$disabled_protos$$_::
Each line in this file specifies a disabled protocol name. The following are
some examples:
+
--
----
tcp
udp
----

The settings from this file are read in at program start and written to disk
when you press the Save button in the ``Enabled Protocols'' dialog box.
--

_ethers_::
When Wireshark is trying to translate Ethernet hardware addresses to names, it
consults the files listed in <<AppFilesTabFolders>>. If an address is not found
in /etc/ethers, Wireshark looks in $HOME/.wireshark/ethers
+
--
Each line in these files consists of one hardware address and name separated by
whitespace. The digits of hardware addresses are separated by colons (:), dashes
(-) or periods(.). The following are some examples:

----
ff-ff-ff-ff-ff-ff    Broadcast
c0-00-ff-ff-ff-ff    TR_broadcast
00.2b.08.93.4b.a1    Freds_machine
----

The settings from this file are read in at program start and never written by
Wireshark.
--

_manuf_::
Wireshark uses the files listed in <<AppFilesTabFolders>> to translate the first
three bytes of an Ethernet address into a manufacturers name. This file has the
same format as the ethers file, except addresses are three bytes long.
+
--
An example is:

----
00:00:01    Xerox                  # XEROX CORPORATION
----

The settings from this file are read in at program start and never written by
Wireshark.
--

_hosts_::
Wireshark uses the files listed in <<AppFilesTabFolders>> to translate IPv4 and
IPv6 addresses into names.
+
--
This file has the same format as the usual /etc/hosts file on Unix systems.

An example is:

----
# Comments must be prepended by the # sign!
192.168.0.1 homeserver
----

The settings from this file are read in at program start and never written by
Wireshark.
--

_services_::
Wireshark uses the files listed in <<AppFilesTabFolders>> to translate port
numbers into names.
+
--
An example is:

----
mydns       5045/udp     # My own Domain Name Server
mydns       5045/tcp     # My own Domain Name Server
----

The settings from this file are read in at program start and never written by
Wireshark.
--

_subnets_::
Wireshark uses the files listed in <<AppFilesTabFolders>> to translate an IPv4
address into a subnet name. If no exact match from the hosts file or from DNS is
found, Wireshark will attempt a partial match for the subnet of the address.
+
--
Each line of this file consists of an IPv4 address, a subnet mask length
separated only by a '/' and a name separated by whitespace. While the address
must be a full IPv4 address, any values beyond the mask length are subsequently
ignored.

An example is:
----
# Comments must be prepended by the # sign!
192.168.0.0/24 ws_test_network
----

A partially matched name will be printed as ``subnet-name.remaining-address''.
For example, ``192.168.0.1'' under the subnet above would be printed as
``ws_test_network.1"; if the mask length above had been 16 rather than 24, the
printed address would be ``ws_test_network.0.1''.

The settings from this file are read in at program start and never written by
Wireshark.
--

_ipxnets_::
Wireshark uses the files listed in <<AppFilesTabFolders>> to translate IPX network numbers into names.
+
--

An example is:
----
C0.A8.2C.00      HR
c0-a8-1c-00      CEO
00:00:BE:EF      IT_Server1
110f             FileServer3
----

The settings from this file are read in at program start and never written by
Wireshark.
--

_plugins_ folder::
Wireshark searches for plugins in the directories listed in
<<AppFilesTabFolders>>. They are searched in the order listed.

_temp_ folder::
If you start a new capture and don't specify a filename for it, Wireshark uses
this directory to store that file; see <<ChCapCaptureFiles>>.

[[ChProtocolHelp]]

==== Protocol help configuration

Wireshark can use configuration files to create context-sensitive menu items for
protocol detail items which will load help URLs in your web browser.

To create a protocol help file, create a folder named ``protocol_help'' in
either the personal or global configuration folders. Then create a text file
with the extension ``.ini'' in the ``protocol_help'' folder. The file must
contain key-value pairs with the following sections:

[database]::
Mandatory. This contains initialization information for the
help file. The following keys must be defined:
+
--
source::
Source name, e.g. ``HyperGlobalMegaMart''

version::
Must be ``1''.

location::
General URL for help items. Variables can be substituted using
the [location data] section below.
--

[location data]::
Optional. Contains keys that will be used for variable
substitution in the ``location'' value. For example, if
the database section contains
+
--
----
location = http://www.example.com/proto?cookie=${cookie}&amp;path=${PATH}
----
then setting
----
cookie = anonymous-user-1138
----
will result in the URL
``http://www.example.com/proto?cookie=anonymous-user-1138&amp;path=${PATH}''.
PATH is used for help path substitution, and shouldn't be defined in this section.
--

[map]::
Maps Wireshark protocol names to section names below. Each key
MUST match a valid protocol name such as ``ip''. Each value MUST
have a matching section defined in the configuration file.

Each protocol section must contain an ``_OVERVIEW'' key which will be used as
the first menu item for the help source. Subsequent keys must match descriptions
in the protocol detail. Values will be used as the ${PATH} variable in the
location template. If ${PATH} isn't present in the location template the value
will be appended to the location.

Suppose the file
_$$C:\Users\sam.clemens\AppData\Roaming\Wireshark\protocol_help\wikipedia.ini$$_
contains the following:
----

# Wikipedia (en) protocol help file.

# Help file initialization
# source: The source of the help information, e.g. ``Inacon'' or ``Wikipedia"
# version: Currently unused. Must be ``1''.
# url_template: Template for generated URLs. See ``URL Data'' below.
[database]
source=Wikipedia
version=1
url_template=https://${language}.wikipedia.org/wiki/${PATH}

# Substitution data for the location template.
# Each occurrence of the keys below in the location template will be
# substituted with their corresponding values. For example, ``${license}"
# in the URL template above will be replaced with the value of ``license"
# below.
#
# PATH is reserved for the help paths below; do not specify it here.
[location data]
language = en

# Maps Wireshark protocol names to section names below. Each key MUST match
# a valid protocol name. Each value MUST have a matching section below.
[map]
tcp=TCP

# Mapped protocol sections.
# Keys must match protocol detail items descriptions.
[TCP]
_OVERVIEW=Transmission_Control_Protocol
Destination port=Transmission_Control_Protocol#TCP_ports
Source port=Transmission_Control_Protocol#TCP_ports

----

Right-clicking on a TCP protocol detail item will display a help menu item that
displays the Wikipedia page for TCP. Right-clicking on the TCP destination or
source ports will display additional help menu items that take you to the ``TCP
ports'' section of the page.

The [location data] and ${PATH} can be omitted if they are not needed. For
example, the following configuration is functionally equivalent to the previous
configuration:
----

[database]
source=Wikipedia
version=1
location=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/

[map]
tcp=TCP

[TCP]
_OVERVIEW=Transmission_Control_Protocol
Destination port=Transmission_Control_Protocol#TCP_ports
Source port=Transmission_Control_Protocol#TCP_ports

----

[[ChWindowsFolder]]

=== Windows folders

Here you will find some details about the folders used in Wireshark on different
Windows versions.

As already mentioned, you can find the currently used folders in the _About
Wireshark_ dialog.

[[ChWindowsProfiles]]

==== Windows profiles

Windows uses some special directories to store user configuration files which
define the ``user profile''. This can be confusing, as the default directory
location changed from Windows version to version and might also be different for
English and internationalized versions of Windows.

[NOTE]
====
If you've upgraded to a new Windows version, your profile might be kept in the
former location. The defaults mentioned here might not apply.
====

The following guides you to the right place where to look for Wireshark's
profile data.

Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and associated server editions::
_C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\Wireshark_

Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 footnoteref:[historical,No longer supported by Wireshark. For historical reference only.]::
_C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Application Data_. ``Documents and
Settings'' and ``Application Data'' might be internationalized.

Windows 2000 footnoteref:[historical]::
_C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Application Data_. ``Documents and
Settings'' and ``Application Data'' might be internationalized.

Windows NT 4 footnoteref:[historical]::
_C:\WINNT\Profiles\<username>\Application Data\Wireshark_

Windows ME, Windows 98 with user profiles footnoteref:[historical]::
In Windows ME and 98 you could enable separate user profiles. In that case,
something like _C:\windows\Profiles\<username>\Application Data\Wireshark_
is used.

Windows ME, Windows 98 without user profiles footnoteref:[historical]::
Without user profiles enabled the default location for all users was
_C:\windows\Application Data\Wireshark_

[[ChWindowsRoamingProfiles]]

==== Windows roaming profiles

Some larger Windows environments use roaming profiles. If this is the case the
configurations of all programs you use won't be saved on your local hard drive.
They will be stored on the domain server instead.

Your settings will travel with you from computer to computer with one exception.
The ``Local Settings'' folder in your profile data (typically something like:
__C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Local Settings__) will not be
transferred to the domain server. This is the default for temporary capture
files.

[[ChWindowsTempFolder]]

==== Windows temporary folder

Wireshark uses the folder which is set by the TMPDIR or TEMP environment
variable. This variable will be set by the Windows installer.

Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and associated server editions::
_C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\Temp_

Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Windows 2000 footnoteref:[historical]::
_C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Local Settings\Temp_

Windows NT footnoteref:[historical]::
_C:\TEMP_

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