Tip of the Month

May 2001

New Tricks for IP Tools

As a network analyst, an extended IP tool utility should always be a part of your analysis toolbox. These tools extend the capability of the venerable Ping and other command line utilities included with virtually every operating system. They also provide an easier to use and easier to integrate interface to the end-user.

Most tools integrate the usual Ping, Trace Route, Name Lookup (DNS), etc., into a single utility. Many include more advanced options such as the ability to scan ports and ranges of IP addresses. One such advanced tool, WildPackets' iNetTools (integrated with WildPackets' analyzers or available separately) can even do a spot check on a web server's throughput.

Are IP address and UDP/TCP port scanners just for hackers?

Besides the obvious devious use of scanners, these tools can be put to good use. For example, if a user can't connect to a server that's supposed to have Web services, you might conduct a port scan on that server. Assuming that the server's HTTP service has not been remapped from the "well-known" port of 80, you should see a response.

Or perhaps you want to make sure that your firewall is blocking certain ports. Chances are, you will have full access to a server inside of your Intranet, so you need to run a port scan from the outside in. One way to do this is to dial-up to a service provider outside of your intranet, then run the port scan.

You've undoubtedly performed Ping one or two or a thousand times, but what about when you want to check on a range of addresses? By using the iNetTools Ping Scan, you can choose a range of IP addresses (for example, 10.1.2.1 through 10.1.2.100) and see who replies. Automatic DNS resolution may also reveal the name of the devices.

Hey, as long as you're on that dial-up connection, use the iNetTools Throughput tool for a quick throughput test. It'll tell you the number of files associated with that page and how long it's taking to get each file. Repeat the test a few times to get a feel for the averages. Never hurts to check the response time of your web site that half the world sees on dial-up connections!