Reference number: CH000444

Help with ping, winipcfg, and other network commands.

Issue:

Help with ping, winipcfg, and other network commands.

Cause:

It may be necessary to utilize utilities such as ping, winipcfg, tracert, etc to help identify and fix network related issues.

Solution:

Below is a listing of the various network related commands used in MS-DOS, Windows, Linux, Unix, and other operating systems. Each command includes additional information to what the command does, the command's syntax, and miscellaneous information.

Note: If you are not the root or admin of a computer, it is possible for these commands to be disabled or revoked.

Arp
Finger
Hostname
Ipconfig
Pathping
Ping
Nbtstat
Net
Netstat
Nslookup
Route
Tracert / Traceroute
Whois
Winipcfg

ARP

Display or manipulate the ARP information on a network device or computer.

• Additional information about the MS-DOS arp command can be found here.

FINGER

The finger command available in Unix / Linux variants allows a user to find sometimes personal information about a user. This information can include the last time the user logged in, when they read their e-mail, etc... If the user creates a .PLAN or other related file the user can also display additional information.

• Unix / Linux and variant finger command information can be found here.

HOSTNAME

The hostname command displays the host name of the Windows XP computer currently logged into.

• Additional information about the MS-DOS hostname command can be found here.

IPCONFIG

Ipconfig is a MS-DOS utility which can be used from MS-DOS and a MS-DOS shell to display the network settings currently assigned and given by a network. This command can be utilized to verify a network connection as well as to verify your network settings.

Windows 2000 users should use this command to determine network information.

• Additional information about ipconfig can be found here.

PATHPING

Pathping is a MS-DOS utility available for Microsoft Windows 2000 and Windows XP users. This utility enables a user to find network latency and network loss.

•  Additional information about the pathping command can be found here.

PING

Ping is one of the most commonly used and known commands. Ping allows a user to ping another network IP address. This can help determine if the network is able to communicate with the network.

• MS-DOS / Windows ping command and information can be found here.
• Unix / Linux and variant ping command information can be found here.

NBTSTAT

The nbtstat MS-DOS utility that displays protocol statistics and current TCP/IP connections using NBT.

• MS-DOS / Windows nbtstat command and information can be found here.

NET

The net command is available in MS-DOS / Windows and is used to set, view and determine network settings.

• MS-DOS / Windows net command and information can be found here.

NETSTAT

The netstat command is used to display the TCP/IP network protocol statistics and information.

• MS-DOS / Windows netstat command and information and be found here.
• Unix / Linux netstat command and information and be found here.

NSLOOKUP

The nslookup MS-DOS utility that enables a user to do a reverse lookup on an IP address of a domain or host on a network.

• MS-DOS / Windows nslookup command and information can be found here.
• Unix / Linux nslookup command and information and be found here. Linux users may also be interested in the host command that performs a similar task.

ROUTE

The route MS-DOS utility enables computers to view and modify the computer's route table.

• MS-DOS route command information can be found here.

TRACERT / TRACEROUTE

The tracert command in MS-DOS / Windows or the traceroute command in Unix / Linux and variants is another commonly used network command to help determine network related issues or slowdowns. Using this command you can view a listing of how a network packet travels through the network and where it may fail or slow down. Using this information you can determine the computer, router, switch or other network device possibly causing your network issues.

• MS-DOS / Windows tracert command and information can be found here.
• Unix / Linux and variant traceroute command information can be found here.

WHOIS

The whois command available in Unix / Linux variants helps allow a user to identify a domain name. This command provides information about a domain name much like the WHOIS on network solutions. In some cases the domain information will be provided from Network Solutions.

• Unix / Linux and variant whois command information can be found here.

WINIPCFG

The winipcfg command available in Windows allows a user to display network and network adapter information. Here, a user can find such information as an IP address, Subnet Mask, Gateway, etc...

• Windows winipcfg command and information can be found here.

NOTE: Windows 2000, Windows XP and above users do not have winipcfg. Instead, use ipconfig.