Network Know-How

Network Tools

You won't use them often if your LAN and your Internet connection are working properly, but you should know about a handful of troubleshooting tools that allow you to examine the innards of your network and its Internet connection.

All of these tools are simple text commands that you can use with just about any operating system. When you type a command, the system will display the results in the same window or screen. In Microsoft Windows, you can open a Command Prompt window after selecting Start▸ Programs or by selecting Start▸ Run and then typing cmd. In Mac OS X, select Applications▸ Utilities and the Terminal program. If you're using Linux or Unix, use a command prompt or an XTerminal.

IPConfig

The IPConfig tool displays detailed ...