Which tool would you use to capture and inspect network traffic to verify inbound XML data is reaching the VM?

• A. tcpdump
• B. netstat
• C. nslookup
• D. traceroute

Answer: (A)

Capturing inbound traffic as it arrives at a VM requires a tool that records the actual packets on the network interface and shows their contents. tcpdump is a command-line packet capture utility that can monitor a VM’s network interface, capture traffic, and display protocol headers and payload data. This lets you verify that data is reaching the VM and inspect the XML payload to confirm it’s correct or expected. You can focus on inbound traffic by filtering for the relevant port or host, making it practical for validating XML data delivery.

Netstat isn’t a packet sniffer; it lists active connections and listening ports but doesn’t capture or reveal packet contents. Nslookup is for resolving domain names to IP addresses, not for traffic capture. Traceroute shows the path packets take to a destination but doesn’t reveal the actual payload or confirm inbound receipt. Therefore, tcpdump is the best choice for capturing and inspecting the network traffic to verify inbound XML data is reaching the VM.