---
title: Capture a TCP Dump
slug: legacy-docs/capture-a-tcp-dump
docTags: 
createdAt: 2025-03-11T06:58:09.586Z
---

:::hint{type="warning"}
This page / section pertains to **BrightAuthor Classic**, our legacy app. **BrightSign Author **is our latest app for managing content and players.

Development of BrightAuthor Classic has largely ceased and the app will eventually be deprecated and replaced with BrightSign Author.
:::

If your IP stream does not playback as expected, follow these instructions to generate a TCP dump from the Diagnostic Web Server (DWS) using BrightAuthor Classic.

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Enable the DWS on your player if it has not already been enabled (see the [DWS docs](docId\:RoCfChGLJlkhvKU1LqosZ) for more info).
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Download, unzip, and open this presentation/plugin:

::File{src="https://api.archbee.com/api/presign/TYAqEnq_Txckpox4eAKHe-Whsd7_YC1e9UgeF0th6AQ-20250414-183937.zip" label="GStreamerPluginIPStreamUserVar.zip"}
:::

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Go to **File > Presentation Properties > Variables**. Enter your IP stream URL as the **Default Value** for the "StreamURL" variable.
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Publish the presentation. After you publish the presentation, the player should reboot.
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Access the player's DWS by entering the IP address of the player into a web browser on the same local network. *You have less than 10 seconds after the player has rebooted to complete the next step*.
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Initiate a network packet capture:

1. Go to the **Diagnostics** tab.
2. Select **Network Capture**
3. Select **Start** while "Display IP Stream in 10 seconds" is displayed on screen.
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Allow the network capture to run for \~ 30 seconds, then select **Stop**.
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Retrieve the capture file by going to the **SD** tab and clicking on the Disk icon next to the "capture.pcap" file.
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Go to the **LOG** tab and download the system log. Send both the "capture.pcap" file and the content of the **LOG** tab to BrightSign support for analysis.
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