best pc for a network analyzer

[bwanaaa]

of course the raspberry pi would be great- if i could ever get one. but since since its still in short supply, i am wondering what else would be good. i already have a network tap. i need something that runs wireshark. the configuration would be:

internet -> network tap -> lan switch-->lan clients and wireless access points
........................|tx....|rx.........|cat5
........................|.......|...........|
........................V......V...........V
...................... network analyzer


then i can vnc into the network analyzer from my iPad as i walk around to all the network clients to evaluate them.
so the network analyzer needs three nics - i guess there is no mini itx with such a built in config so i would need a usb-ethernet adapters (prob 2) and use the native nic on the miniitx mobo as well.

does anyone have any hardware suggestions? or perhaps a better strategy? somewhere i read about just installing winPCAP on the network analyzer as a service. Then wireshark can run on the remote device-trouble is- i don't have wireshark for the iPad.

 

[stevech]

any old laptop with gigE.

AND, a low cost lightly managed ethernet switch with port mirroring/monitoring.