Useful Network Commands For Windows/DOS

Windows  has a whole array of helpful command line tools for configuring and testing Internet and LAN connections. The following is a list of useful network commands that can be used from the command prompt. A lot of these commands are intended for administrating a network, but they are great for savvy home users as well. All of the tools are run by opening a Command window and entering the appropriate command. Go to Start-Run and enter “cmd” to open a Command window.

• net – Used to start, stop and view networking operations.
• ipconfig – Displays the IP Address and other TCP/IP information on your system.
• netstat – Returns protocol statistics and current TCP/IP connections.
• hostname – Displays the Microsoft networking computer name.
• lpq – Displays the print queue status of an LPD printer.
• ping – Verify the connectivity or a host across a network.
• nbtstat – Returns protocol statistics and current TCP/IP connections.
• ipxroute – Displays and modifies IPX routing tables.
• route – Manipulates TCP/IP routing information
• tracert – Displays route taken by an ICMP to a remote host.
• finger – Displays information about the user
• arp – Displays or modifies information in the ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) cache
• getmac – Lists the MAC (Media Access Control) Address on the computer network interfaces

Add  /? to the command will provide more information e.g. ipconfig show more information about ipconfig command.

Some Applications:

• Display Connection Configuration: ipconfig /all
• Display DNS Cache Info Configuration: ipconfig /displaydns
• Clear DNS Cache: ipconfig /flushdns
• Release All IP Address Connections: ipconfig /release
• Renew All IP Address Connections: ipconfig /renew
• Re-Register the DNS connections: ipconfig /registerdns
• Change/Modify DHCP Class ID: ipconfig /setclassid
• Network Connections: control netconnections
• Network Setup Wizard: netsetup.cpl
• Test Connectivity: ping www.simplenetworktips.blogspot.com
•  Trace IP address Route: tracert
• Displays the TCP/IP protocol sessions: netstat
• Display Local Route: route
• Display Resolved MAC Addresses: arp
• Display Name of Computer Currently on: hostname
• Display DHCP Class Information:ipconfig /showclassid