Top 20+ Networking Commands

In today’s hyper-connected world, networks form the backbone of our digital lives, enabling everything from browsing the web to transferring crucial data across continents. Whether managing a corporate network or troubleshooting issues at home, a strong understanding of networking commands is essential. Networking commands are typically used through a Command-Line Interface (CLI) like “command prompt” in Windows, “terminal” in Linux/macOS, or other networking devices (such as routers and switches) that support CLI. In this article, we will explore top networking commands.

Most Used Networking Commands

Here are some of the most popular networking commands for troubleshooting and diagnosing, configuring settings, testing connectivity, and monitoring and statistics.

1. ping

• Syntax: ping [destination IP/domain]
• Functionality: This command tests network connectivity between the device and a target host by sending ICMP Echo Request packets and receiving Echo Reply responses.
• Use Case: Verifying if a remote host, such as a gateway, DNS server, or external server, is reachable across the network.

2. Traceroute (Linux) / tracert (Windows)

• Syntax:
  • traceroute [destination]
  • tracert [destination]
• Functionality: This command traces the route packets take to reach a destination by displaying each hop and its latency. It helps identify delays or failures in the network path between the source and destination.
• Use Case: Diagnosing routing issues and understanding the path to a destination.

3. ipconfig (Windows) / ifconfig (Linux/Unix/macOS)

• Syntax:
• ipconfig (Windows)
• ifconfig (Linux/Unix/macOS)
• Functionality: This command displays network interface configuration details, including IP address, subnet masks, default gateways, and DNS servers.
• Use Case: Troubleshooting network connectivity issues by viewing IP details.

4. netstat

• Syntax:
  • netstat -a (all active connections)
  • netstat -r (routing table)
  • netstat -i (interface stats)
• Functionality: This command provides a snapshot of active network connections, port statuses, routing tables, interface statistics, and more.
• Use Case: Troubleshooting network connections, ports, and routing issues.

5. nslookup

• Syntax: nslookup [domain]
• Functionality: This command performs manual DNS queries to convert domain names into IP addresses and also works in reverse.
• Use Case: Verifying DNS records and troubleshooting name resolution issues.

6. dig (Linux/Mac)

• Syntax: dig [domain]
• Functionality: This command provides more detailed DNS information than nslookup, such as the entire DNS hierarchy.
• Use Case: Verifying DNS records and troubleshooting domain name resolution issues.

7. route

• Syntax: route -n (to view routing table)
• Functionality: This command is essential for managing and viewing routing tables. It is commonly used to add static routes in environments where traffic needs to be directed over specific interfaces or in multi-homed networks where multiple gateways are used.
• Use Case: Configuring or inspecting network routes.

8. arp

• Syntax: arp -a (to view the ARP table)
• Functionality: This command displays and modifies the ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) table, which maps IP addresses to MAC addresses.
• Use Case: Troubleshooting IP-MAC mappings in local networks.

9. ip (Linux)

• Syntax:
  • ip addr (to view IP configurations)
  • ip route (to view routing tables)
• Functionality: This is the modern replacement of ifconfig and route, used to manage IP addresses, network interfaces, and routing on Linux systems.
• Use Case: Network configuration and management, including IP assignments and route settings.

10. tcpdump

• Syntax: tcpdump -i [interface]
• Functionality: This command captures network packets in real-time, providing insight into traffic flowing through the network.
• Use Case: Troubleshooting network traffic issues and inspecting data packets.

11. nmap

• Syntax: nmap [target IP]
• Functionality: This is used frequently for security audits to see what services are exposed on a host. It is an excellent reconnaissance tool that helps identify potential vulnerabilities or unintentional services running on a machine.
• Use Case: Network discovery and security auditing by scanning for open ports and services.

12. ssh

• Syntax: ssh [user]@[host]
• Functionality: This command securely connects to a remote system over a network, encrypting the communication between client and server, allowing secure login, command execution, and file transfer using protocols like SFTP.
• Use Case: Securing remote access to devices and servers.

13. telnet

• Syntax: telnet [host] [port]
• Functionality: While replaced mainly by SSH for remote management, telnet is still useful for testing whether a specific port is open or reachable (e.g., checking if a web server responds on port 80).
• Use Case: Accessing devices or systems remotely (though usually replaced by SSH).

14. tshark

• Syntax: tshark -i [interface]
• Functionality: This command-line version of Wireshark is used for packet capture and analysis when graphical tools are not available.
• Use Case: Capturing packets from the command line.

15. curl

• Syntax: curl [URL]
• Functionality: This command is used to test and interact with web services, APIs, and other endpoints over various protocols (HTTP, FTP, etc.).
• Use Case: Verifying the availability of websites, APIs, or other network services and retrieving data from URLs.

16. hostname

• Syntax:
  • hostname (to view)
  • hostname [new-name] (to set a new hostname)
• Functionality: This command displays or sets the system’s hostname. It is essential for managing network identities in environments where multiple systems or servers are deployed.
• Use Case: Verifying or changing the hostname of a system.

17. nc (Netcat)

• Syntax: nc [destination] [port]
• Functionality: This command reads and writes data across network connections using TCP or UDP. It is often called the “Swiss army knife” of networking.
• Use Case: Testing open ports and connectivity on remote hosts.

18. ethtool (Linux)

• Syntax: ethtool [interface]
• Functionality: This command displays and modifies network interface settings, such as speed, duplex mode, auto-negotiation, and driver information.
• Use Case: Checking Ethernet interface speed and duplex settings.

19. mtr

• Syntax: mtr [destination]
• Functionality: This command combines the functionality of ping and traceroute, providing real-time path analysis. It continuously displays latency and packet loss statistics for each hop between the source and destination.
• Use Cases: Diagnosing network performance issues by identifying problematic hops.

20. ss

• Syntax: ss -tuln (to show listening TCP/UDP ports)
• Functionality: A modern replacement for netstat, this command analyzes socket-level statistics, such as open and listening ports.
• Use Case: Checking for active connections and open ports.

21. netsh

• Syntax: netsh interface ip show config
• Functionality: This command-line scripting utility is used to display or modify network configurations on Windows.
• Use Case: Managing networking settings like IP, firewall, wireless, and more.

22. iwconfig (Linux)

• Syntax: iwconfig
• Functionality: This command is used to configure and display wireless network interface parameters in Linux.
• Use Case: Viewing or configuring wireless interfaces and settings.

The above networking commands list provides users or administrators quick insights into network health, helps diagnose and fix issues, and enables seamless configuration of devices. From the clarity of verifying an IP address to the complexity of tracing network routes, these commands are powerful tools for keeping networks stable and secure.

Feel free to explore other related articles:

• A Beginner’s Guide to Common Network Protocols
• Physical Architecture of Network
• Top Network Security Tools
• How to Defend Against Network Security Threats?
• Roles and Responsibilities of a Network Administrator
• A Complete Guide to Becoming a Network Engineer

How Can InfosecTrain Help?

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