Basic Networking

Commands Explained with

Examples
V. Lathika, AP/CSE
Department of CSE
Sona College of Technology, Salem.
Top network commands
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[Link] (Address Resolution Protocol)
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nslookup
• Displays information that you can use to diagnose Domain Name
System (DNS) infrastructure.
• Before using this tool, you should be familiar with how DNS works.
• The nslookup command-line tool is available only if you have installed
the TCP/IP protocol.

[Link]

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ARP
• The ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) is like a networking translator.
• When you want to communicate with another device on a network
but only know its IP address, ‘ARP’ steps in to find the device’s
physical or MAC address.
• This establishes smooth communication by translating between IP
and MAC addresses, helping your devices connect seamlessly.
• To use ARP, simply type `arp` in the command prompt to see a list of
devices and their associated addresses.

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ipconfig
• This command displays all current TCP/IP network configuration
values and refreshes Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) and
Domain Name System (DNS) settings.
• This command is mainly used to view the IP addresses on the
computers that are configured to obtain their IP address
automatically.

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tracert
• This command is used to diagnose path-related problems.
• On an IP network, routers exchange IP packets between the source
and the destination.
• They take IP packets from the source host and forward them in a
sequence until they reach the destination host.

tracert Destination Name or IP address

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Important options of the tracert
command
Option Description
-d Do not resolve the IP addresses of intermediate routers to their names.

-h Specifies the maximum number of hops (routers) to search on the path. The default is 30
hops.

-w Specifies the amount of time in milliseconds to wait for a reply message from the router. If
not received within the time-out, an asterisk (*) is displayed. The default time-out is 4000
(4 seconds).

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HOSTNAME
• HOSTNAME is like your computer’s name tag in the digital world.
• It’s an easy way to find out what your computer calls itself on the
network.
• Just type ‘hostname‘ in the command prompt, and it reveals the unique
name your computer goes by.
• It might seem simple, but knowing your hostname is handy for
networking and troubleshooting tasks.

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GETMAC
• When you’re on a Windows system and want to know the physical
addresses (MAC addresses) of your network adapters, `getmac` is
your go-to command.
• Just type `getmac` in the command prompt.
• It reveals the unique identifiers for your network adapters, making it
useful for network troubleshooting and verifying that each device has
its own distinct digital fingerprint.

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NBTSTAT
• This command reveals information like NetBIOS names,
IP addresses, and the current state of your NetBIOS over
TCP/IP connections.
• It’s a handy tool for troubleshooting and understanding
the NetBIOS side of your network interactions.
• This command only works when the Internet Protocol
(TCP/IP) is installed on a network adapter in Network
Connections.

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PATHPING
• Just type `pathping` followed by the destination address, and it not
only traces the route but is also used to locate spots that have
network loss and network latency.

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ping
• The ping command is used to test connectivity between two hosts.
• It sends ICMP echo request messages to the destination.
• The destination host replies with ICMP reply messages.
• If the ping command gets a reply from the destination host, it displays
the reply along with round-trip times.

ping destination host IP or name

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netstat
• This command displays active connections, ports on which the
computer is listening, Ethernet statistics, the IP routing table, and IP
statistics.
• The output of this command is organized in rows and columns.
• Each row represents a new connection or an entry in the output. It
contains four columns.
• These columns provide the following information about the row.
• Protocol, local address, foreign address, state

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SYSTEMINFO
• SYTEMINFO, is like your all-in-one information hub. It is required
when you want a detailed overview of your Windows system,
including operating system, memory, and even recent updates.
• Just type `systeminfo` in the command prompt.
• It provides a wealth of information, giving you a snapshot of your
system’s health and configuration.
• It’s like your computer’s personal biography in a command, perfect for
understanding and managing your Windows environment.

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