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Throwing Star LAN Tap
$14.99
The Throwing Star LAN Tap is a passive Ethernet tap, requiring no power for operation. There are active methods of tapping Ethernet connections (e.g., a mirror port on a switch), but none can beat passive taps for portability. To the target network, the Throwing Star LAN Tap looks just like a section of cable, but the wires in the cable extend to the monitoring ports in addition to connecting one target port to the other.
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EU Safety Information
Manufacturer: Hak5 LLC. 5473 Blair Rd, Ste 100 PMB 39371, Dallas, TX 75231. Shop@Hak5.org. https://shop.hak5.org
Responsible Person: Easy Access System Europe - Mustamäe tee 50, 10621 Tallinn, Estonia, gpsr.requests@easproject.com
Safety Information: Warning: Not suitable for children under 14 years. This is not a toy. Contains small parts that may present a choking hazard. Keep out of reach of children. Do not expose the device to water, excessive moisture, direct sunlight or extreme conditions (moisture, heat, cold, dust), as the device may malfunction or cease to work when exposed to such elements. Do not attempt to disassemble or repair the device yourself. Doing so voids the limited warranty and could harm you or the device. This device is not designed, manufactured or intended for use in hazardous environments requiring fail-safe performance in which the failure of the device could lead directly to death, personal injury, or severe physical or environmental damage. Wireless equipped devices are restricted to indoor use only when operating in the 2400 MHz – 2483.5 MHz frequency range within the EU and EFTA countries, as required by Article 10(10) of Directive 2014/53/EU. Battery equipped devices: do not dispose of batteries in household waste. Battery replacement must be carried out by a qualified technician. This USB-powered device complies with the EMC Directive (2014/30/EU) and meets the requirements of EN 55032 and EN 55035 for electromagnetic compatibility. This device is designed in accordance with USB-IF specifications for voltage limits, data integrity, and power safety to ensure reliable and compliant operation. This product has been designed and manufactured in accordance with the RoHS requirements and complies with the European Union’s Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directive 2011/65/EU and Directive (EU) 2015/863. This device is designed to operate reliably within an operating temperature range of 35ºC to 45ºC and a storage temperature range of -20ºC to 50ºC. It is rated for use in environments with 0% to 90% relative humidity (non-condensing). Proper environmental conditions must be maintained to ensure optimal performance and longevity. Made in China. This device is for authorized auditing and security analysis purposes only where permitted subject to local and international laws where applicable. Users are solely responsible for compliance with all laws of their locality. Hak5 LLC and affiliates claim no responsibility for unauthorized or unlawful use. This device is packaged with a limited warranty, the acceptance of which is a condition of sale. See Hak5.org for additional warranty details and limitations. Availability and performance of certain features, services and applications are device and network dependent and may not be available in all areas; additional terms, conditions and/or charges may apply. All features, functionality and other product specifications are subject to change without notice or obligation. Hak5 LLC reserves the right to make changes to the products description without notice. Hak5 LLC does not assume any liability that may occur due to the use or application of the product(s) described herein.
The monitoring ports (J3 and J4) are receive-only; they connect to the receive data lines on the monitoring station but do not connect to the station's transmit lines. This makes it impossible for the monitoring station to accidentally transmit data packets onto the target network.
The Throwing Star LAN Tap is designed to monitor 10BASET and 100BASETX networks. It is not possible for an unpowered tap to perform monitoring of 1000BASET (Gigabit Ethernet) networks, so the Throwing Star LAN Tap intentionally degrades the quality of 1000BASET target networks, forcing them to negotiate a lower speed (typically 100BASETX) that can be passively monitored. This is the purpose of the two capacitors (C1 and C2).
Like all passive LAN Taps, the Throwing Star LAN Tap degrades signal quality to some extent. Except as described above for Gigabit networks, this rarely causes problems on the target network. In situations where very long cables are in use, the signal degradation could reduce network performance. It is a good practice to use cables that are not any longer than necessary.
Video
Usage
- Use Ethernet cables to connect the Throwing Star LAN Tap (J1 and J2) in line with a target network to be monitored.
- Use Ethernet cables to connect one or both of the monitoring ports (J3 and J4) to ports on one or two monitoring stations. Each port monitors traffic in one direction only.
- Use your favorite software (e.g., tcpdump or Wireshark) on the monitoring station(s) to capture network traffic.
Assembly
- Gather the components. You should have one Throwing Star LAN Tap printed circuit board, four Amphenol RJHSE5080 modular connectors, and two 220 pF capacitors with 0.1 inch lead spacing such as the Xicon 14050P2221KRC. You will also need a soldering iron, some electrical solder, and a pair of wire cutters.
- Insert the four modular connectors (J1, J2, J3, and J4) into the printed circuit board. Be careful that each of the leads extends through the circuit board before snapping the connector fully into place.
- Solder the eight leads of each connector.
- Insert the two capacitors (C1 and C2) through the circuit board. It is helpful to slightly bend the leads on the underside of the board so that the capacitors stay in place when the board is turned over.
- Solder both leads of each capacitor and clip off the excess with wire cutters.
- Clean the flux from the board. Depending on the type of solder used, you might need water, alcohol, or other solvents. A toothbrush can make this job easier. Allow the board to dry before use.
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