Network Troubleshooting: 10 Essential Commands Everyone Should Know

Master these 10 essential network commands to diagnose connection issues, test connectivity, and troubleshoot network problems like a pro. This comprehensive guide covers commands for Windows, Mac, and Linux.

1. Ping - Test Network Connectivity

What it does: Tests if a host is reachable and measures round-trip time.

Command: ping example.com

Use cases:

• Check if a website/server is online
• Measure network latency
• Detect packet loss

Try our graphical Ping Tool for easier testing!

2. Traceroute/Tracert - Trace Network Path

What it does: Shows the path packets take to reach a destination.

Command:

• Windows: tracert example.com
• Mac/Linux: traceroute example.com

Use cases:

• Identify where connection fails
• Find network bottlenecks
• Diagnose routing issues

3. Nslookup - DNS Lookup

What it does: Queries DNS servers to find IP addresses for domain names.

Command: nslookup example.com

Use cases:

• Verify DNS resolution
• Check which DNS server is being used
• Troubleshoot DNS issues

4. Ipconfig/Ifconfig - Network Configuration

What it does: Displays network adapter configuration.

Command:

• Windows: ipconfig /all
• Mac/Linux: ifconfig or ip addr show

Use cases:

• Find your IP address
• Check DNS servers in use
• View network adapter details

5. Netstat - Network Statistics

What it does: Shows active network connections and listening ports.

Command: netstat -an

Use cases:

• See all active connections
• Check which ports are open
• Identify suspicious connections

6. Curl - Test HTTP/HTTPS Requests

What it does: Makes HTTP requests from command line.

Command: curl -I https://example.com

Use cases:

• Test website response
• Check HTTP headers
• Debug API issues

7. Dig - Advanced DNS Lookup

What it does: Detailed DNS query tool (Mac/Linux).

Command: dig example.com

Use cases:

• Get detailed DNS information
• Query specific record types
• Troubleshoot DNS propagation

8. Route - View Routing Table

What it does: Displays and modifies network routing table.

Command:

• Windows: route print
• Mac/Linux: route -n

9. Arp - View ARP Cache

What it does: Shows IP-to-MAC address mappings.

Command: arp -a

Use cases:

• See devices on local network
• Troubleshoot local network issues

10. Pathping - Combined Ping and Traceroute

What it does: Combines ping and traceroute with statistics (Windows).

Command: pathping example.com

Use cases:

• Detailed route analysis
• Find packet loss at each hop

Common Troubleshooting Workflows

Website Won't Load

1. Run ping example.com - Check if site is reachable
2. Run nslookup example.com - Verify DNS works
3. Try ping 8.8.8.8 - Test if internet works at all
4. Flush DNS cache

Slow Internet Connection

1. Run speed test - Measure current speeds
2. Run ping -t gateway_ip - Check local network latency
3. Run traceroute example.com - Find where delay occurs
4. Check netstat -an - See if something is using bandwidth

Can't Connect to Specific Website

1. Ping the domain - Is it responding?
2. Nslookup the domain - Is DNS working?
3. Try different DNS server (1.1.1.1)
4. Flush DNS cache and browser cache

Quick Reference Table

Prefer GUI Tools? Use our web-based Ping, DNS Lookup, and Speed Test tools - no command line needed!