Learning: Network Traffic Analysis

Our company have asked me to get some formal training on network traffic analysis.

They established that will not buy an expensive packet filtering.

I am having trouble trying to figure out what do I look for as far as training.

I found some training available, using specific tools, (which my company do not want me to do), they want me to look into a generic training, that will allow me to understand and read packets and network protocols.

I really do not have much knowledge on thissubject, any ideas anybody?
is linux the answer? I still have to get trained somewhere in Florida.