RANDPKT(1) RANDPKT(1)
NAME
randpkt - Random packet generator
SYNOPSIS
randpkt [ -b <maxbytes> ] [ -c <count> ] [ -F <file format> ] [ -r ]
[ -t <type> ] <filename>
randpkt -h|--help
randpkt -v|--version
DESCRIPTION
randpkt is a small utility that creates a trace file full of random
packets.
By creating many randomized packets of a certain type, you can test
packet sniffers to see how well they handle malformed packets. The
sniffer can never trust the data that it sees in the packet because you
can always sniff a very bad packet that conforms to no standard. randpkt
produces very bad packets.
When creating packets of a certain type, randpkt uses a sample packet
that is stored internally to randpkt. It uses this as the starting point
for your random packets, and then adds extra random bytes to the end of
this sample packet.
For example, if you choose to create random ARP packets, randpkt will
create a packet which contains a predetermined Ethernet II header, with
the Type field set to ARP. After the Ethernet II header, it will put a
random number of bytes with random values.
OPTIONS
-b <maxbytes>
Default 5000.
Defines the maximum number of bytes added to the sample packet. If
you choose a maxbytes value that is less than the size of the sample
packet, then your packets would contain only the sample packet...
not much variance there! randpkt exits on that condition.
-c <count>
Default 1000.
Defines the number of packets to generate.
-F <file format>
Default pcapng.
Sets the file format of the output capture file. randpkt can write
the file in several formats; randpkt -F provides a list of the
available output formats. Note that not all output formats support
all packet types.
-h|--help
Print the version number and options and exit.
-r
The packet type is determined randomly for each packet. This
requires an output format that can support different encapsulations
per packet, like pcapng.
-t <type>
Default Ethernet II frame.
Defines the type of packet to generate:
arp Address Resolution Protocol
bgp Border Gateway Protocol
bvlc BACnet Virtual Link Control
dns Domain Name Service
eth Ethernet
fddi Fiber Distributed Data Interface
giop General Inter-ORB Protocol
icmp Internet Control Message Protocol
ip Internet Protocol
ipv6 Internet Protocol Version 6
llc Logical Link Control
m2m WiMAX M2M Encapsulation Protocol
megaco MEGACO
nbns NetBIOS-over-TCP Name Service
ncp2222 NetWare Core Protocol
sctp Stream Control Transmission Protocol
syslog Syslog message
tds TDS NetLib
tcp Transmission Control Protocol
tr Token-Ring
udp User Datagram Protocol
usb Universal Serial Bus
usb-linux Universal Serial Bus with Linux specific header
-v|--version
Print the full version information and exit.
DIAGNOSTIC OPTIONS
--log-level <level>
Set the active log level. Supported levels in lowest to highest
order are "noisy", "debug", "info", "message", "warning",
"critical", and "error". Messages at each level and higher will be
printed, for example "warning" prints "warning", "critical", and
"error" messages and "noisy" prints all messages. Levels are case
insensitive.
--log-fatal <level>
Abort the program if any messages are logged at the specified level
or higher. For example, "warning" aborts on any "warning",
"critical", or "error" messages.
--log-domains <list>
Only print messages for the specified log domains, e.g.
"GUI,Epan,sshdump". List of domains must be comma-separated. Can be
negated with "!" as the first character (inverts the match).
--log-debug <list>
Force the specified domains to log at the "debug" level. List of
domains must be comma-separated. Can be negated with "!" as the
first character (inverts the match).
--log-noisy <list>
Force the specified domains to log at the "noisy" level. List of
domains must be comma-separated. Can be negated with "!" as the
first character (inverts the match).
--log-fatal-domains <list>
Abort the program if any messages are logged for the specified log
domains. List of domains must be comma-separated.
--log-file <path>
Write log messages and stderr output to the specified file.
EXAMPLES
To see a description of the randpkt options use:
randpkt
To generate a capture file with 1000 DNS packets use:
randpkt -b 500 -t dns rand_dns.pcapng
To generate a small capture file with just a single LLC frame use:
randpkt -b 100 -c 1 -t llc single_llc.pcapng
SEE ALSO
pcap(3), editcap(1)
2025-06-10 RANDPKT(1)
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