Sensors and network administering


Testing network paths

When a network infrastructure includesTest TCP (Ttcp.exe) is a tool that you
router-based firewalls, the function ofcan use to listen for and send TCP
the firewall, which is to silentlysegment data or UDP messages between two
discard traffic that the firewall hasnodes. Ttcp.exe is provided with Windows
not been configured to forward, canServer 2003 in the
impair specific networking functions.Valueadd\Msft\Net\Tools folder of the
For example, if a firewall between twoWindows Server 2003 product CD-ROM.
Microsoft Windows Active DirectoryTest TCP differs from Port Query in the
directory service domain controllers hasfollowing ways:
not been configured to allow all of theWith Test TCP, you can configure a
different types of traffic that domaincomputer to listen on a specific TCP or
controllers use to synchronize theUDP port without having to install the
Active Directory database, replicationapplication or service on the computer.
can fail.This allows you to test network
When troubleshooting networkingconnectivity for specific traffic before
functions and reachability, a commonthe services are in place. For example,
step is to use the Ping tool (Ping.exe)you could use Test TCP to test for
and ping one computer from another.domain replication traffic to a computer
However, the Ping tool uses Internetbefore you make the computer a domain
Control Message Protocol (ICMP) Echo andcontroller.
Echo Reply messages, which is typicallyTest TCP also supports Internet Protocol
not the same traffic being used for theversion 6 (IPv6) traffic.
network function that is impaired. TheThe basic syntax for Ttcp.exe on the
firewalls between the two computerslistening node (the receiver) is the
might be allowing ICMP traffic or mightfollowing:
be dropping it. In either case, becausettcp -r -pPort (to listen on a TCP port)
the network function that is impaired isttcp -r -pPort-u (to listen on a UDP
not using ICMP Echo traffic, theport)
connectivity test with the Ping toolThe basic syntax for Ttcp.exe on the
does not provide conclusive diagnosticsending node (the transmitter) is the
information about the traffic that isfollowing:
being discarded (dropped) by thettcp -t -pPort (to send to a TCP port)
intermediate firewalls.ttcp -t -pPort-u (to send to a UDP port)
For definitive diagnostic information,For additional command line options,
you must be able to duplicate the exacttype ttcp at the command prompt.
type of traffic of the impaired networkTtcp.exe can only listen on or send to a
function using a tool that can reportsingle port. To configure a computer to
connectivity success or failure. Oncelisten on multiple ports, run Ttcp.exe
you have determined the types of trafficin separate command prompt windows.
that are being dropped by intermediateTop of pageTop of page
firewalls, you can configure theCommon Types of Traffic Problems
firewalls to forward the dropped trafficThe most common types of traffic that
to restore connectivity for the impairedare blocked by firewalls and can impair
network function.Windows networking functionality are the
Tools for Testing Network Paths forfollowing:
Specific Types of TrafficActive Directory domain traffic
Microsoft provides the following toolsDNS traffic
to test network paths for specific typesVPN traffic
of traffic:ICMP traffic
Port QueryOther traffic
PPTP PingActive Directory Domain Traffic
TelnetActive Directory domain traffic includes
Test TCPthe following domain operations:
Port Query (Portqry.exe andActive Directory replication between
Portqueryui.exe)domain controllers
Port Query is a free tool from MicrosoftPromotion of a new domain controller
that you can use to help troubleshootwith the Dcpromo.exe tool
TCP/IP connectivity issues for specificDomain logon
types of Transmission Control ProtocolDomain authentication
(TCP) and User Datagram Protocol (UDP)Establishing domain trusts
traffic. Port Query has a command-lineThe traffic used for these types of
version (Portqry.exe) (available atdomain operations is described in detail
PortQry Command Line Port Scannerin the How to Configure a Firewall for
Version 2.0) and a graphical userDomains and Trusts Microsoft Knowledge
interface version (Portqueryui.exe)Base article and includes the following:
(available at PortQryUI - User InterfaceTCP port 135 for Remote Procedure Call
for the PortQry Command Line Port(RPC) traffic
Scanner. Both versions run on WindowsTCP port 389 and UDP port 389 for LDAP
2000, Windows XP, and Windows Servertraffic
2003-based computers.TCP port 636 for LDAP over Secure
Portqry.exe has the following features:Sockets Layer (SSL) traffic
A command-line mode that you can use toTCP port 3268 for LDAP Global Catalog
query TCP, UDP, or both for a single(GC) traffic
port, an ordered list of ports, or aTCP port 3269 for LDAP GC SSL traffic
sequential range of ports.TCP port 53 and UDP port 53 for DNS
An interactive mode from which you cantraffic
issue sequential commands more easilyTCP port 88 and UDP port 88 for Kerberos
and use a series of shortcuts, ortraffic
predefined queries for common trafficTCP port 445 for Server Message Block
such as Domain Name System (DNS) or(SMB) (also known as Common Internet
Lightweight Directory Access ProtocolFile System [CIFS]) traffic
(LDAP).You can test your network paths for
A local host mode that you can use todomain traffic on an individual port
obtain detailed information about thebasis with the Portqry.exe tool if the
TCP and UDP ports being used on thedomain controller is already in place or
local computer on which Portqry.exewith the Ttcp.exe tool to listen and
runs.send domain traffic if the computer that
For details of the three different modesis being promoted to a domain controller
and command syntax, see New features andhas not yet been promoted.
functionality in PortQry version 2.0.The easiest way to test for all of these
This Microsoft Knowledge Base articleports at one time is to use
contains example commands and samplePortqueryui.exe and the "Domains and
output.Trusts" predefined service, which by
Portqueryui.exe allows you to moredefault queries the following sets of
easily query ports with a Windows-basedports:
graphical user interface. From thisTCP port 135 (RPC traffic)
window, you can specify the name or IPTCP port 398 and UDP port 389 (LDAP
address of the computer to query, selecttraffic)
a pre-defined service, manually specifyTCP port 636 (LDAP over SSL traffic)
the port, ports, or port ranges to queryTCP port 3268 (LDAP GC traffic)
in a specified order, and the protocolTCP port 3269 (LDAP GC SSL traffic)
to query (TCP, UDP, or both). When youTCP port 53 and UDP port 53 (DNS
click Query, the results are displayedtraffic)
in the Query Result portion of theTCP port 88 and UDP port 88 (Kerberos
window.traffic)
To determine the set of ports queriedTCP port 445 (SMB traffic)
for the predefined services, click Help,UDP port 137 (Network Basic Input/Output
and then click Predefined Services. YouSystem [NetBIOS] name service traffic)
can modify the set of ports queried forUDP port 138 (NetBIOS NetLogon and
each predefined service or create yourbrowsing traffic)
own predefined services by modifying theTCP port 139 (NetBIOS session traffic)
contents of the Config.xml file. ForTCP port 42 (Windows Internet Name
information about the syntax forService [WINS] replication traffic)
specifying ports in the Config.xml file,The set of ports queried with the
see the Portqueryui.doc file. Both the"Domains and Trusts" predefined service
Config.xml and Portqueryui.doc file areincludes all of the ports listed in the
stored in the Portqueryui.exeHow to Configure a Firewall for Domains
installation folder.and Trusts Microsoft Knowledge Base
When either version of the Port Queryarticle.
tool queries a port, it reports theDNS Traffic
status of a port as being in one of theTo test for DNS traffic, you can use the
following states:following methods:
LISTENINGUse Portqry.exe with the following
Port Query received a positive responsesyntax:
and a process is listening on the TCP orportqry -n DNS_server_name_or_IP_address
UDP port that was queried.-p BOTH -e 53
NOT LISTENINGAlternately, you can use the q dns
Port Query received a negative responseshortcut command at the Portqry.exe
and a process is not listening on theinteractive command prompt.
TCP or UDP port that was queried. For aUse Portqueryui.exe and the "Networking"
TCP port, Port Query received a TCPpredefined service, which queries DNS
connection reset segment. For a UDPalong with other networking protocols
port, Port Query received an ICMPVPN Traffic
Destination Unreachable-Port UnreachableTo use PPTP Ping to test for PPTP-based
message.VPN traffic, do the following:
FILTERED1.On the VPN server computer:
Port Query received no response to theIf needed, stop the Routing and Remote
query. A process may or may not beAccess service using the Routing and
listening on the port. The FILTEREDRemote Access or Services snap-ins. This
status indicates that the query trafficstep ensures that Pptpsrv.exe can use
could have been dropped by anTCP port 1723 and IP protocol 47.
intermediate firewall. By default, PortRun Pptpsrv.exe.
Query tries TCP ports three times and2.On the VPN client computer:
UDP ports once.Run Pptpclnt.exe with the following
PPTP Pingsyntax:
PPTP Ping is a set of two toolspptpclnt.exe servername_or_IP_Address
(Pptpsrv.exe and Pptpclnt.exe) that areWhen prompted, type some text to send to
provided with the Windows 2000 orthe VPN server computer and then press
Windows Server 2003 Support Tools,ENTER.
located in the Support\Tools folder ofIf PPTP traffic can be successfully
the Windows 2000 or Windows Server 2003exchanged between the VPN server and VPN
product CD-ROMs. After installing theclient computers, Pptpsrv.exe on the VPN
Support Tools, Pptpsrv.exe andserver computer will display the text
Pptpclnt.exe are stored in the Programthat was sent by the VPN client computer
Files\Support Tools folder on theand an exchange of five GRE messages. If
Windows system drive. For Windows XPnot, Pptpsrv.exe will indicate what
Service Pack2, you can obtain an updatedtypes of PPTP traffic were unsuccessful.
versions of Pptpsrv.exe and Pptpclnt.exeIf you are using a site-to-site VPN
from Windows XP Service Pack 2 Supportconnection (also known as a
Tools.router-to-router VPN connection) to
PPTP Ping allows you to test whetherconnect two sites of your organization
Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP)and both Routing and Remote Access
traffic, consisting of TCP port 1723server computers can initiate the VPN
traffic for PPTP tunnel maintenance andconnection, use the above procedure
IP protocol 47 for Generic Routingagain, reversing the roles of the two
Encapsulation (GRE) traffic for PPTPcomputers. Because either server
tunneled data, can be successfully sentcomputer can initiate the connection,
and received between a client and serveryou must ensure that both servers can
computer. PPTP Ping does not verify thatact as both VPN clients and VPN servers.
a successful PTPP connection can be madeICMP Traffic
(which requires a user authenticationICMP traffic is used by protocol stack
process), only that PPTP traffic can becomponents, system services, and
exchanged with a specified destination.applications for various networking
For PPTP traffic, the problem isfunctions. Here are some examples of
typically a firewall that filters GREWindows networking functions that use
traffic. To correct this problem,ICMP traffic:
configure your firewalls to forward GRETo determine whether the link to the
traffic (IP protocol 47) to the VPNActive Directory domain controller is a
server computer.fast link or a slow link for the
Telnetpurposes of downloading Group Policy
Telnet (Telnet.exe) is a tool includedsettings, Active Directory clients send
with Windows that you typically use toICMP Echo messages.
login to a Telnet server. You can alsoTo automatically determine the path
use the Telnet tool to test TCPmaximum transmission unit (PMTU) between
connectivity for any TCP destinationtwo peers, the Windows TCP/IP stack uses
port. To verify that a TCP connectionthe receipt of ICMP Destination
can be established using the knownUnreachable-Fragmentation Needed and
destination TCP port number of theDon't Fragment Set messages. For more
application of the destination, you caninformation, see Path Maximum
use the telnet IPv4AddressPort command.Transmission Unit (PMTU) Black Hole
For example, to verify whether the WebRouters, the July 2004 The Cable Guy
server service on the computer with thearticle.
IPv4 address of 131.107.78.12 isIn either case, you can test for
accepting TCP connections, use theintermediate firewalls that block ICMP
telnet 131.107.78.12 80 command.traffic with the Ping tool.
If the Telnet tool is successful inOther Traffic
creating a TCP connection, the commandFor other types of traffic, you can use
prompt window will clear and-dependingthe following methods:
on the protocol-might display some text.Use Portqry.exe to specify individual
This window allows you to type inports at the command line or use the
commands to the service to which youshortcuts in interactive mode.
have connected. Type Control-C to exitUse Portqueryui.exe to specify
the Telnet tool. If the Telnet tool isindividual ports or use the predefined
not successful in creating a TCPservices.
connection, it displays the messageUse Telnet.exe to test for TCP
"Connecting To IPv4Address...Could notconnectivity on specific ports.
open connection to the host, on portUse Ttcp.exe to set up listening and
Port: Connect failed".sending nodes.
Test TCP



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