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Session 1793

Practical Network Tools

V. Rajaravivarma Computer Electronics, School of Technology Central Connecticut State University New Britain, CT 06050, USA RajaravivarmaV@ccsu.edu

Abstract

This paper discusses ten practical commands useful in troubleshooting and solving network problems. These commands will be helpful for students in networking curricula and for entry-level network administrators. Troubleshooting is often a process of elimination. While troubleshooting problems, network administrators are either trying to discover what the problem is and rule out what the problem is not. They are always looking for simple solutions. This paper attempts to instill proficiency in basic network troubleshooting skills.

Introduction

This section briefly introduces all the ten basic commands discussed in this paper. 1. IPCONFIG is useful because it helps you determine a lot of relevant network information such as IP Address, Subnet Mask, DNS, and DHCP Servers. This command would generally be used to confirm proper network configurations that are in place. It is a very useful tool for troubleshooting as well as informational purposes 2. PING is an excellent test for basic network connectivity that allows verifying a connection with a particular host by sending ICMP request and reply packets. If a successful ping reply is received, with no packet loss, this indicates that the connection is functioning properly. Ping is probably one of the most useful and commonly used networking commands for troubleshooting. Ping can be used on a LAN or a remote host. To test the host by itself, ping the host NIC using the address 127.0.0.1. 3. TRACERT provides a view into the route in which packets follow en route to their destination. It can be used to identify where problems, or bottlenecks, may be occurring during a packet’s journey to its final destination. TRACERT is commonly used if the ping fails. 4. PATHPING takes elements from both PING and TRACERT and helps to identify where, along a packet’s journey, any packet loss might be occurring. PATHPING is a good tool to use for isolating network problems. PATHPING tests IP

Proceedings of the 2004 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition Copyright © 2004, American Society for Engineering Education

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Rajaravivarma, V. (2004, June), Practical Network Tools Paper presented at 2004 Annual Conference, Salt Lake City, Utah. 10.18260/1-2--13842