pace-it: troubleshooting connectivity with utilities

Troubleshooting connectivity with utilities.

Instructor, PACE-IT Program – Edmonds Community College

Areas of Expertise Industry Certifications

PC Hardware

Network Administration

IT Project Management

Network Design

User Training

IT Troubleshooting

Qualifications Summary

Education

M.B.A., IT Management, Western Governor’s University

B.S., IT Security, Western Governor’s University

Entrepreneur, executive leader, and proven manger with 10+ years of experience turning complex issues into efficient and effective solutions.

Strengths include developing and mentoring diverse workforces, improving processes, analyzing business needs and creating the solutions required— with a focus on technology.

Brian K. Ferrill, M.B.A.

Troubleshooting connectivity with utilities.PACE-IT.

– Connectivity utilities defined.

– Connectivity utilities explained.

– Additional software.

Connectivity utilities defined.Troubleshooting connectivity with utilities.

Connectivity is a program or device’s ability to connect (or link) to other programs or devices.

A connectivity utility is a utility or application that is used to establish connectivity and/or to diagnose or fix a connectivity issue.

Connectivity utilities defined.Troubleshooting connectivity with utilities.

Connectivity utilities explained.Troubleshooting connectivity with utilities.

All modern operating systems come with prepackaged connectivity utilities designed to diagnose and repair connectivity issues.

In some cases, you can use these utilities or programs from a GUI. However, in all cases, you can use the following applications from the command prompt (C:\>).



– ping.» Simple utility used to determine if there is connectivity

between two nodes.» Uses ICMP echo requests.» The two basic formats are ping [ip address] or ping

[hostname].• Using ping6 or ping -6 will ping IPv6 hosts.

– tracert/traceroute.» Utility used to determine the path used between two

nodes.» tracert = Windows and traceroute = Linux/UNIX/OS X.» Uses ICMP echo requests with an incrementing TTL field

to form queries and get responses.» Can be of limited value, as many routers have ICMP

disabled.» Uses the same basic format as ping.

• Using traceroute6 or traceroute -6 will test for IPv6 routes.

PathPing is a network connectivity utility that has been supplied in Microsoft operating systems since the introduction of NT.

PathPing builds upon the functionality of ping by combining it with tracert. When the application is used, it will, in effect, perform a tracert—defining the path to the last node—and then it will perform a ping test on each hop.

One disadvantage to PathPing is that it requires 25 seconds per hop to show the ping results. It uses the same command format as ping and tracert.



– ipconfig/ifconfig.» ipconfig = Windows and ifconfig = Linux/UNIX/OS X.» Used to determine the IP configuration of a given node.» Can also be used to change the IP configuration of a

given node.» When using to diagnose connectivity, look for incorrect

IP address, incorrect subnet mask, incorrect DNS address, and/or incorrect default gateway.

– arp.» Stands for address resolution protocol.» Used to correlate IP addresses to MAC addresses.» The utility can help to determine when there is an issue

with the arp table on a given node.


– nslookup.» Stands for name server lookup.» Supported by all major operating systems.» Used to diagnose DNS issues.» Can be helpful in determining if a DNS server is having

problems.

– dig.» UNIX/Linux/OS X command that is similar to nslookup.» It does use different switch modifiers and return

different results.

– route.» Windows specific command.» Used to view and manipulate the routing tables on a

Windows OS node.


– nbtstat.» Stands for NetBios over TCP statistics.» Windows implements the NBT protocol for backward

compatibility.» nbtstat is the utility to use if a NetBios issue is

suspected.

– netstat.» Stands for network statistics.» Utility used to display protocol statistics and current

TCP/IP network connection.» Useful for determining if a connection has been made

and the status of that connection.

Additional software.Troubleshooting connectivity with utilities.

Additional software.Troubleshooting connectivity with utilities.

– Throughput testers.» Used to determine the data flow (bandwidth) of a

network.» Can be used internally (to test the flow within a LAN).» Can be used externally (to test the flow of a WAN

connection).» Are often used to create a baseline of network

performance.

– Protocol analyzers.» Often called packet sniffers.» Examine the network behavior at a very basic level.» Can examine all of the packets coming into and out of

an interface.» Can be used to see what is consuming network

resources (e.g., is a broadcast storm occurring or is an interface going bad?)

» Wireshark is a common protocol analyzer that is often used.

Connectivity is a device or program’s ability to connect to another device or program. Connectivity utilities are used to establish that connectivity is present and/or to diagnose and repair connectivity issues.

Topic

Connectivity utilities defined.

Summary

Depending on the operating system used, ping, tracert/traceroute, PathPing, ipconfig/ifconfig, arp, nslookup, dig, route, nbtstat, and netstat are all utilities that are available to diagnose connectivity issues.

Connectivity utilities explained.

Throughput testers measure the bandwidth that is available—either within the LAN or at the WAN connection. Protocol analyzers provide a fundamental view of the network; they look at the packet level to see what is occurring in the network.

Additional software.

What was covered.Troubleshooting connectivity with utilities.

THANK YOU!

This workforce solution was 100 percent funded by a $3 million grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration. The solution was created by the grantee and does not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Labor. The Department of Labor makes no guarantees, warranties, or assurances of any kind, express or implied, with respect to such information, including any information on linked sites and including, but not limited to, accuracy of the information or its completeness, timeliness, usefulness, adequacy, continued availability or ownership. Funded by the Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, Grant #TC-23745-12-60-A-53.

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pace-it: troubleshooting connectivity with utilities

Education

troubleshooting connectivity

connectivity andor

network connectivity

repair connectivity

ping test

ping hostname

ping results

functionality of ping