Guy Harris wrote:
On Sun, Feb 29, 2004 at 06:52:21PM +0100, Ulf Lamping wrote:
In "Multiple files" mode, the only reasonable "Number of files" value
would be "infinity" - any other value would imply that it'd write no
more than that number of files.
That's exactly the intended behaviour. This is the way to get the
*first* xy bytes of a long term capture, and just stop after that.
Otherwise you would like to use the ring buffer, if you want to have the
*last* xy bytes.
OK, if it's the intended behavior, how do I type "Infinity" into the
"Number of files" dialog box?
Do you really have a use case for this? (see below)
The *only* difference between multiple and ring buffer is: when it comes
to the end of the last capture file,
a ring buffer will continue capturing from the first file, but the
multiple will just stop capturing.
Really?
I thought there was a mode where it kept capturing, producing more and
more files, until you explicitly told it to stop - no automatic stop;
that's how it works in Tethereal:
-b If a maximum capture file size was specified, cause
Tethereal to run in "ring buffer" mode, with the
specified number of files. In "ring buffer" mode,
Tethereal will write to several capture files. Their
name is based on the number of the file and on the
creation date and time.
When the first capture file fills up, Tethereal will
switch to writing to the next file, until it fills up
the last file, at which point it'll discard the data
in the first file (unless 0 is specified, in which
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
case, the number of files is unlimited) and start
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
writing to that file and so on.
Again, what's the use case? (see below)
That's also the reason, that I wanted to have "Use ring buffer" checked
by default, as that's the typical thing to have.
The typical thing to have is to capture to more than one file? That's
not typical for me.
Misunderstanding: typical behaviour, when you use more than one file. If
you use a single file (which is default) this option is pretty useless.
Ok, back to the "infinite" setting.
As I stated before:
- a ringbuffer with 1 file doesn't make sense and should be avoided.
- a ringbuffer with 0 files indicating infinite is very unintuitive
(although maybe ok for a command line)
If it's needed, it should behave just like the other settings, so "Limit
number of files" with a checkbox switching it on /off and a field for
the value (2-1024).
Regards, ULFL
