We all know some command of the Windows console (which will not disappear) that allows us to perform basic operations on the network. For example, the command ping, which allows us to know what it costs our PC to connect to a web service or a network location, roughly.

What we propose in this article is a graphical tool for Windows that brings together the most common operations, called NetCrunch Tools. With it we can perform from the most basic as a “ping”, to more advanced things like trace the route that follows our connection when we try to reach a specific network location.

While it is advisable to learn to deal with these issues with the command prompt (or with the Linux terminal), to start learning how NetCrunch network management tools work is not a bad start. If you have thought about directing your professional career towards the administration of systems, it is a good way to begin to have notions about networks, to give an example.

Just open the program, you will see that the tools are divided into three groups : Basic IP Tools, Subnet Tools and Scanners. Each of them includes tools for a series of specific tasks, which we will detail later. In passing, we will try to explain how to make each one work.

Basic IP Tools, which almost all of us know

• Ping : to make it work we will have to enter an IP address or a web address in it, so we can see how much it costs our PC to get there. The results are displayed on the screen.
• Traceroute : As before, we will need an IP address or a web address. When we enter it, we will see the route that follows our connection from the origin (our team) to the destination (the web address or IP that we introduced).
• Wake On Lan : to use this tool we will need the MAC address of a computer, so that we can turn it on remotely by entering it in the text field that appears in the tool.
• DNS Info : if we enter a web address, it will collect information from the name resolution server of the same and will show it on the screen. Among this information will appear from information about the hosting of the same, to information about different kinds of records.
• Who Is : when entering a web address in the text field, it will provide us with information about the domain we are asking for. Among other things, we will see whose name it is, the organization to which it belongs, who does the hosting tasks and even emails and contact telephone numbers.

Subnet Tools, more advanced terrains

• DNS Audit : for this feature to work we will have to enter two IP addresses that are within the same range. Afterwards, it will scan each node between the two and will look for errors of the DNS servers for each one of them. The results will appear on the screen.
• MAC Solve : through an IP address of input and another output (that are in the same range), it will scan all that there is between one and another (the input and output included) and display on the screen the MAC addresses of the devices that are connected to it. You can also display the manufacturers of the cards based on MAC prefixes.
• Subnet Calculator : is a utility to perform calculations on subnets from an IP address quickly. It is aimed at people who already have experience working with networks.

Scanners, for more detailed information

• Ping Scanner : this scanner will search in a range of IP addresses that we specify, which will allow us to know which ones are in use. It will also check the DNS.
• Network Service Scanner : again we will work with a range of IP addresses. Through it, NetCrunch Tools will search all TCP and UDP services that run on machines of a specific IP address or network.
• Open TCP Port Scanner : this scanner also works with a range of IP addresses. It will look for different number of open ports in our network: only the most popular, a complete scanner or a range of ports that we specify manually.
• SNMP Scanner : provides basic information about Simple Network Management Protocol or SNMP nodes.

Most of the options of the tools can be customized by clicking on the button with three points that is in the upper right part of the window, with which you can change different parameters for most of the tools.