The correct answer is B. Installing a network tap in-line with the web server. A network tap (Test Access Point) is a hardware device placed directly in-line between network devices, allowing it to capture all traffic flowing across the link. Because it operates at the physical layer, a tap can capture 100% of packets, including malformed frames and Layer 1 errors, which are often missed by other methods.
This solution also minimizes impact on infrastructure, as taps are passive devices that do not introduce significant latency or processing overhead. They do not rely on switch configuration or consume switch resources, making them ideal for high-fidelity packet capture during troubleshooting.
Other options do not meet all requirements. Port mirroring (SPAN) can capture traffic but may drop packets under heavy load and typically does not capture Layer 1 errors. Installing a protocol analyzer on the server only captures traffic processed by the server's NIC and may miss certain low-level issues. Running Nmap is an active scanning tool used for discovery and security auditing, not packet capture.
Therefore, a network tap is the best solution for complete, accurate, and low-impact packet capture.