---
title: "Count Total number of Packets"
slug: "packet-tricks-count-total-number-packets"
updated: 2025-05-06T10:49:38Z
published: 2025-05-06T10:49:38Z
canonical: "docs.fmad.io/packet-tricks-count-total-number-packets"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.fmad.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Count Total number of Packets

One of the most basic tests is to count the total number of packets recorded in a capture. This can be done with or without BPF and Frame filters depending on the goal.

Using

```plaintext
fmadiocli "show capture list"
```

Find the full name of the capture for counting, we will use <full_capture_name> in the example below for this step

---

## Basic Total Captured

Most basic is raw packet count

```plaintext
sudo stream_cat <full_capture_name> | capinfos2 -v
```

Example output is shown below

```bash
bfmadio@fmadio200v4-636:~$ sudo stream_cat wan0_20250501_1633  | capinfos2 -v
calibrating...
stream_cat ioqueue: 4
calibrating...
StartChunkID: 52289272
StartChunk: 52289272 Offset: 0 Stride: 1
StartChunk: 52289272
PCAP nano
0.00GB    0.000 Gbps    0.000 Mpps SeqError:0
1.83GB   14.635 Gbps    2.789 Mpps SeqError:0
packet stream end
20250506_183941 2.287s : Pkt:3334842 Byte:2187656352 SUCCESS
Total Packets: 3334842
TotalBytes     : 2134298880
TotalPackets   : 3334842
PayloadCRC     : 7946e8f8cd4c299
ErrorSeq       : 0
ErrorPktSize   : 0
LastByte       : 0x00000000
SeqStart       : 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 : 0x00000000
SeqEnd         : 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 : 0x00000000
PacketCnt      : 0 0 0 0
TimeOrder      : 0
CRCFail        : 0
CRCFailFNIC    : 0
Time First     : 20250501_163404 08:34:04.267.612.373 (1746088444.267612373)
Time Last      : 20250501_163934 08:39:34.448.225.332 (1746088774.448225332)
TotalPCAPTime  : 330180612959 ns (5.503min)
Bandwidth      : 0.052 Gbps
Packet Rate    : 0.010 Mpps

Complete
fmadio@fmadio200v4-636:~$
```

In this example there are total of 3334842 packets

---

## Basic Total Capture in JSON

The same example using JSON formatting

Command is shown below

```plaintext
sudo stream_cat <full_capture_name> | capinfos2 -v --json | grep IsJSON | jq
```

Example output shown below

```json
fmadio@fmadio200v4-636:~$ sudo stream_cat wan0_20250501_1633  | capinfos2 -v --json | grep IsJSON | jq
calibrating...
stream_cat ioqueue: 4
calibrating...
0 : 2749994583           2.7500 cycles/nsec offset:0.005 Mhz
Cycles/Sec 2749994583.0000 Std:       0 cycle std(  0.00000000) Target:2.75 Ghz
0 : 2749992300           2.7500 cycles/nsec offset:0.008 Mhz
Cycles/Sec 2749992300.0000 Std:       0 cycle std(  0.00000000) Target:2.75 Ghz
StartChunkID: 52289272
StartChunk: 52289272 Offset: 0 Stride: 1
StartChunk: 52289272
packet stream end
20250506_184108 2.276s : Pkt:3334842 Byte:2187656352 SUCCESS
{
  "IsJSON": true,
  "TotalByteCapture": 2187656352,
  "TotalByteWire": 2134298880,
  "TotalPacket": 3334842,
  "TimeStartStr": "20250501_163404",
  "TimeStart": 1746088444267612373,
  "TimeEndStr": "20250501_163934",
  "TimeEnd": 1746088774448225332,
  "TimeDurationNS": 330180612959,
  "BandwidthGbps": 0.051712,
  "PacketrateMpps": 0.010100,
  "SeqCheckError": 0,
  "SeqStart0": 0,
  "SeqStart1": 0,
  "SeqStart2": 0,
  "SeqStart3": 0,
  "SeqEnd0": 0,
  "SeqEnd1": 0,
  "SeqEnd2": 0,
  "SeqEnd3": 0
}
fmadio@fmadio200v4-636:~$
```

---

## BPF Filtered Number of Packets

Using a BPF Filter to select specific packets and count them.

In the below example we want only TCP packets

```plaintext
sudo stream_cat <full_capture_name> --bpf "tcp" | capinfos2 -v
```

Example output shown below

```bash
fmadio@fmadio20v3-2U-364:~$ sudo stream_cat wan_20250506_1100 --bpf "tcp" | capinfos2 -v
calibrating...
BPF Filter [tcp] slen: 3 alen: 3
stream_cat ioqueue: 6
StartChunkID: 133883688
StartChunk: 133883688 Offset: 0 Stride: 1
StartChunk: 133883688
PCAP nano
0.00GB    0.000 Gbps    0.000 Mpps SeqError:0
1.18GB    9.450 Gbps    1.134 Mpps SeqError:0
2.57GB   11.065 Gbps    0.954 Mpps SeqError:0
3.50GB    7.494 Gbps    1.332 Mpps SeqError:0
4.26GB    6.066 Gbps    1.396 Mpps SeqError:0
5.02GB    6.043 Gbps    1.392 Mpps SeqError:0
5.77GB    6.025 Gbps    1.388 Mpps SeqError:0
6.53GB    6.044 Gbps    1.393 Mpps SeqError:0
packet stream end
20250506_184508 8.461s : Pkt:9595572 Byte:6850838524 SUCCESS
Total Packets: 9595572
TotalBytes     : 6697309372
TotalPackets   : 9595572
PayloadCRC     : 3040931de00fb314
ErrorSeq       : 0
ErrorPktSize   : 0
LastByte       : 0x00000000
SeqStart       : 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 : 0x00000000
SeqEnd         : 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 : 0x00000000
PacketCnt      : 0 0 0 0
TimeOrder      : 0
CRCFail        : 0
CRCFailFNIC    : 0
Time First     : 20250506_105959 02:59:59.943.698.539 (1746500399.943698539)
Time Last      : 20250506_115959 03:59:59.986.220.762 (1746503999.986220762)
TotalPCAPTime  : 3600042522223 ns (60.001min)
Bandwidth      : 0.015 Gbps
Packet Rate    : 0.003 Mpps

Complete
fmadio@fmadio20v3-2U-364:~$
```

In this example total number of packets is 9595572

---

## Capture Port number of Packets

Using FrameFilters calculating the number of packets per physical capture port is useful operation

Command to count on caputre port 0 (cap0

```plaintext
sudo stream_cat <full_capture_name> --frame "capture.port==1" | capinfos2 -v
```

Example output shown below. Total number of packets on cap1 is 13620333

```bash
fmadio@fmadio20v3-2U-364:~$ sudo stream_cat wan_20250506_1100 --frame "capture.port==1" | capinfos2 -v
calibrating...
Frame Filter [capture.port==1]
stream_cat ioqueue: 6
capture port     [1] invert:0
   capture port enable:1 [1]
fmadio capture port map: [1]
fmadio a7130   port map: []
fmadio c3550   port map: []
StartChunkID: 133883688
StartChunk: 133883688 Offset: 0 Stride: 1
StartChunk: 133883688
PCAP nano
0.00GB    0.000 Gbps    0.000 Mpps SeqError:0
1.25GB    9.989 Gbps    1.453 Mpps SeqError:0
2.74GB   11.910 Gbps    1.091 Mpps SeqError:0
3.65GB    7.270 Gbps    2.099 Mpps SeqError:0
4.50GB    6.830 Gbps    2.131 Mpps SeqError:0
5.36GB    6.847 Gbps    2.156 Mpps SeqError:0
6.24GB    7.012 Gbps    2.189 Mpps SeqError:0
7.11GB    6.946 Gbps    2.170 Mpps SeqError:0
packet stream end
20250506_184750 8.185s : Pkt:13620333 Byte:7230944572 SUCCESS
Total Packets: 13620333
TotalBytes     : 7013019244
TotalPackets   : 13620333
PayloadCRC     : 3165b3a72bbfa7c8
ErrorSeq       : 0
ErrorPktSize   : 0
LastByte       : 0x00000000
SeqStart       : 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 : 0x00000000
SeqEnd         : 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 : 0x00000000
PacketCnt      : 0 0 0 0
TimeOrder      : 0
CRCFail        : 0
CRCFailFNIC    : 0
Time First     : 20250506_105959 02:59:59.943.692.382 (1746500399.943692382)
Time Last      : 20250506_115959 03:59:59.986.229.940 (1746503999.986229940)
TotalPCAPTime  : 3600042537558 ns (60.001min)
Bandwidth      : 0.016 Gbps
Packet Rate    : 0.004 Mpps

Complete
fmadio@fmadio20v3-2U-364:~$
```