CCN LAB MANUAL # 1

Networking Basic Commands

UNIVERSITY OF ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY TAXILA

Taxila, Rawalpindi
 Networking Basics Commands

1. PC Network TCP/IP Configuration

Objective
 Gather information including connection, host name, Layer 2 MAC address and Layer 3 TCP/IP
network address information.
 Compare network information to other PCs on the network.
 Learn to use the TCP/IP Packet Internet Groper (ping) command from a workstation.
 Learn to use the Trace Route (tracert) command from a workstation.

Background
This lab assumes the use of any version of Windows. This is a non-destructive lab and can be done on
any machine without concern of changing the system configuration. Ideally, this lab is performed in a
Computer Lab or other LAN environment that connects to the Internet.
This lab can be done from a single remote connection via a Dial up modem or DSL-type connection.
In the following Lab Manual the lab runs only on Windows NT/2000/XP and up versisons. Extra Steps
should be done on Windows 95/98/ME systems.

Step 1: Connect into the Internet

Establish and verify connectivity to the Internet. This ensures the computer has an IP address.

Step 2: Gather TCP/IP configuration information

Use the Start menu to open the Command Prompt, an MS-DOS-like window.
Press Start > Programs > Accessories > Command Prompt
OR
Start > Programs > Command Prompt.
OR
Press Start>Run Then type cmd.

The following figure shows the Command screen. Type ipconfig and press the Enter key. The
spelling of ipconfig is critical while case is not. It is short for IP Configuration.

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 Fig 2.1 ipconfig on Command Prompt

This first screen shows the IP address, subnet mask, and default gateway. The IP address and the default
gateway should be in the same network or subnet, otherwise this host would not be able to
communicate outside the network. In the figure the subnet mask tells us that the first three octets must
be the same to be in the same network.
Note: If this computer is on a LAN, the default gateway might not be seen if it is running behind a Proxy
Server. Record the following information for this computer.

Step 3: Record the following TCP/IP information for this computer

IP address: ____________________________________________________________

Subnet Mask: __________________________________________________________

Default Gateway: _______________________________________________________

Step 4: Compare the TCP/IP configuration of this computer to others on the LAN
If this computer is on a LAN, compare the information of several machines.
Are there any similarities?____________________________________________________
What is similar about the IP addresses? __________________________________________
What is similar about the default gateways? _______________________________________
The IP addresses should share the same network portion. All machines in the LAN should share the same
default gateway.
Record a couple of the IP Addresses:
________________________________________________________________________

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Step 5: Check additional TCP/IP configuration information
To see detailed information, type ipconfig /all and press Enter. The figure shows the detailed IP
configuration screen.

Fig 2.2 ipconfig/all on Command Prompt

The host name, including the computer name and NetBIOS name should be displayed. Also, the DHCP
server address, if used, and the date the IP lease starts and ends should be displayed. Look over the
information. Entries for the DNS, used in name resolution servers, may also be present.
The previous figure reveals that the router is performing both DHCP and DNS services for this network.
This would likely be a small office or home office (SOHO) or small branch office implementation.
Notice the Physical Address (MAC) and the NIC model (Description).
In the LAN, what similarities about the Physical (MAC) Addresses are seen?
__________________________________________________________________________
While not a requirement, most LAN administrators try to standardize components like NICs.
Therefore, it would not be surprising to find all machines share the first three Hex pairs in the adapter
address. These three pairs identify the manufacturer of the adapter.
Write down the IP addresses of any servers listed:
__________________________________________________________________________
Write down the computer Host Name:
__________________________________________________________________________
Write down the Host Names of a couple other computers:

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__________________________________________________________________________

Step 6: Close the screen

Close the screen when finished examining network settings.
Repeat the previous steps as necessary. Make sure that it is possible to return to and interpret this
screen.

2. Using “ping” and “tracert “

Step 1: Establish and verify connectivity to the Internet

This ensures the computer has an IP address.

Step 2: Access the command prompt

As accessed in previous part of the lab.

Step 3: ping the IP address of another computer

In the window, type ping, a space, and the IP address of a computer recorded in the previous lab.
The following figure shows the successful results of ping to this IP address.

Fig 2.3 ping by ip adress on Command Prompt

ping uses the ICMP echo reply feature to test physical connectivity. Since ping reports on four
attempts, it gives an indication of the reliability of the connection. Look over the results and verify that
the ping was successful. Is the ping successful?

Step 4: ping the IP address of the default gateway

Try to ping the IP address of the default gateway if one was listed in the last exercise. If the ping is
successful, it means there is physical connectivity to the router on the local network and probably the
rest of the world.

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Step 5: ping the IP address of a DHCP or DNS servers
Try to ping the IP address of any DHCP and/or DNS servers listed in the last exercise.
________________________________________________________________________
Was the ping successful? ____________________

Step 6: ping the Loopback IP address of this computer

Type the following command: ping 127.0.0.1
The 127.0.0.0 network is reserved for loopback testing. If the ping is successful, then TCP/IP is
properly installed and functioning on this computer.
Was the ping successful? ____________________

Step 7: ping the hostname of another computer

Try to ping the hostname of the computer that was recorded in the previous lab. The figure shows the
successful result of the ping the hostname.

Fig 2.4 ping by host name on Command Prompt

Look over the results. Notice that the first line of output shows the host name, m450 in the example,
followed by the IP address. This means the computer was able to resolve the host name to an IP
address. Without name resolution, the ping would have failed because TCP/IP only understands valid
IP addresses, not names.
If the ping was successful, it means that connectivity and discovery of IP addresses can be done with
only a hostname. In fact, this is how many early networks communicated. If successful, then ping a
hostname also shows that there is probably a WINS server working on the network.
Note: It would not be uncommon for a Windows 2000 or XP networks to not support this feature.

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It is an old technology and often unnecessary.
If the last ping worked, try to ping the hostname of any another computer on the local network.
The following figure shows the possible results.
Note: The name had to be typed in quotes because the command language did not like the space in the
name.

Fig 2.5 ping by host name with spacing on Command Prompt

Step 8: ping the Cisco web site

Type the following command: ping www.cisco.com

Fig 2.6 ping by web address on Command Prompt

The first output line shows the Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN) followed by the IP address. A
Domain Name Service (DNS) server somewhere in the network was able to resolve the name to an IP
address. DNS servers resolve domain names, not hostnames, to IP addresses.

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Without this name resolution, the ping would have failed because TCP/IP only understands valid IP
addresses. It would not be possible to use the web browser without this name resolution.
With DNS, connectivity to computers on the Internet can be verified using a familiar web address, or
domain name, without having to know the actual IP address. If the nearest DNS server does not know
the IP address, the server asks a DNS server higher in the Internet structure.

Step 9: ping the Microsoft web site

a. Type the following command: ping www.microsoft.com

Fig 2.7 ping failure for Microsoft because some Microsoft routers are configured to ignore ping

Notice that the DNS server was able to resolve the name to an IP address, but there is no response.
Some Microsoft routers are configured to ignore ping requests. This is a frequently implemented
security measure.
ping some other domain names and record the results. For example, ping www.msn.de

Step 10: Trace the route to the Cisco web site

Type tracert www.cisco.com and press Enter.

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 Fig 2.8 tracert website on Command Prompt

tracert is TCP/IP abbreviation for trace route. The preceding figure shows the successful result when
running tracert from Bavaria in Germany. The first output line shows the FQDN followed by the IP
address. Therefore, a DNS server was able to resolve the name to an IP address. Then there are listings
of all routers the tracert requests had to pass through to get to the destination.
tracert uses the same echo requests and replies as the ping command but in a slightly different
way. Observe that tracert actually contacted each router three times. Compare the results to
determine the consistency of the route. Notice in the above example that there were relatively long
delays after router 11 and 13, possibly due to congestion. The main thing is that there seems to be
relatively consistent connectivity.
Each router represents a point where one network connects to another network and the packet was
forwarded through.

Step 11: Trace other IP addresses or domain names

Try tracert on other domain names or IP addresses and record the results. An example is
tracert www.hec.gov.pk

Step 12: Trace a local host name or IP address

Try using the tracert command with a local host name or IP address. It should not take long because
the trace does not pass through any routers.

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 Fig 2.9 tracert a nearby Router

Assignment:

Search and run the following commands:

 NSLOOKUP
 NETSTAT
 Extended PING

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