TCP or SOCKET or HTTP ... track everything my computer is doing

Is there a way to track all connections my pc is making, be it TCP, SOCKET or HTTP?

To put it simply, if my box/pc is talking to the outside world through a network connection, i want to create a log of it.

I would like to capture info similar to what is captured when using something like the Live Http Headers add-on for Firefox.

I'm trying to automate a process, and plan on doing it generically enough that posting the code might be useful for someone else in the future.

Any help would be appreciated, be it vocab, a pointer to where to listen, anything.

Thanks for your help.

Comment on TCP or SOCKET or HTTP ... track everything my computer is doing
Re: TCP or SOCKET or HTTP ... track everything my computer is doing by NetWallah (Monsignor) on Dec 21, 2012 at 00:38 UTC
What OS are you working on ? Linux has a built-in "tcpdump" program that can (selectively) capture what you want. There are options in Windows, both Open source (windump) and MS-specific (I believe the MS network monitor is now a part of SMS). If you want to capture this info in perl, use the Net::Pcap series of modules. "By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest." -Confucius	[reply]
Re^2: TCP or SOCKET or HTTP ... track everything my computer is doing by Anonymous Monk on Dec 21, 2012 at 01:01 UTC
Thanks for the quick reply! This is exactly what I needed to get started. Ideally, the resulting script will be cross-platform, which is why I want to use Perl. I'll post back after I've had a chance to do some appropriate research/experimenting. Thanks again!	[reply]