Many command-line utilities are included with Windows Server 2003. Most of the utilities you’ll work with as an administrator rely on Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP). Because of this, you should install TCP/IP networking before you experiment with these tools.
Utilities to Know
As an administrator, you should familiarize yourself with the following command-line utilities:
- ARP
Displays and manages the IP-to-Physical address mappings used by Windows Server 2003 to send data on the TCP/IP network.
- AT
Schedules programs to run automatically.
- DNSCMD
Displays and manages the configuration of DNS services.
- FTP
Starts the built-in FTP client.
- HOSTNAME
Displays the computer name of the local system.
- IPCONFIG
Displays the TCP/IP properties for network adapters installed on the system. You can also use it to renew and release DHCP information.
- NBTSTAT
Displays statistics and current connections for NetBIOS over TCP/IP.
- NET
Displays a family of useful networking commands.
- NETSH
Displays and manages the network configuration of local and remote computers.
- NETSTAT
Displays current TCP/IP connections and protocol statistics.
- NSLOOKUP
Checks the status of a host or IP address when used with DNS.
- PATHPING
Traces network paths and displays packet loss information.
- PING
Tests the connection to a remote host.
- ROUTE
Manages the routing tables on the system.
- TRACERT
During testing, determines the network path taken to a remote host.
To learn how to use these command-line tools, type the name at a command prompt followed by /?. Windows Server 2003 then provides an overview of how the command is used (in most cases).
Using NET Tools
You can more easily manage most of the tasks performed with the NET commands by using graphical administrative tools and Control Panel utilities. However, some of the NET tools are very useful for performing tasks quickly or for obtaining information, especially during telnet sessions to remote systems. These commands include
- NET SEND
Sends messages to users logged in to a particular system
- NET START
Starts a service on the system
- NET STOP
Stops a service on the system
- NET TIME
Displays the current system time or synchronizes the system time with another computer
- NET USE
Connects and disconnects from a shared resource
- NET VIEW
Displays a list of network resources available to the system
To learn how to use any of the NET command-line tools, type NET HELP followed by the command name, such as NET HELP SEND. Windows Server 2003 then provides an overview of how the command is used.
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