Here’s a list of information and links about a wide variety of IP-oriented networking tools and utilities. Starting with the protocol analyzer around which the book is built – namely, Wireshark – and continuing through general purpose tools, security tools, and subnet calculators, you’ll find lots of interesting and useful stuff right here, right now. If you’d like to nominate a tool for possible inclusion here, please send us an email.
Wireshark (Wireshark.org)
Wireshark (Wireshark Foundation) is the preeminent open-source protocol analyzer used extensively in examples and labs throughout Guide to TCP/IP: IPv6 and IPv4, Fifth Edition. Versions of Wireshark are available for Windows, UNIX/Linux, and Apple OS X systems, all of which include standard analyzer features: packet capture and analysis, visual representation of network traffic, and more. As of version 2.0.0 (released in the fall of 2015), all platforms that Wireshark runs on have the same GUI, which allows for easier navigation and use. Wireshark has a prolific worldwide developer/contributor following, which keeps it updated with new features on an ongoing basis. Wireshark is one of the most successful open-source projects of all time.
Other Networking-Related Tools
- NetScanTools Pro (NetScanTools)
- Engineer’s Toolset (SolarWinds)
- Nmap (Nmap.org)
- Zenmap (Nmap.org)
- Omnipeek Network Protocol Analyzer (LiveAction)
- Spiceworks Network Monitor (Spiceworks, Inc.)
- VisualRoute (Visualware, Inc.)
Security Assessment and Troubleshooting Tools for IPv6
Caution: These tools, if used incorrectly, can cause network interruptions and/or outages. Do not use these tools on a live production network without permission; they should generally be used only on a lab or test network.
