Top 10 Network Tools & TCP/IP Utilities

9.     cURL (free, command-line, open-source)

The cURL utility allows network engineers to query URLs from the command line. If mobile device applications, IoT devices or other APIs are having connectivity issues, the cURL utility can help to test authentication, certificates, and GET and POST methods to help troubleshoot the cause of the problem.

After all, we know that most people are going to blame the network anyway. Network engineers need an application level tool in the toolbox to put the blame in the right place.

10.  PRTG WiFi Monitor (free for up to 100 sensors)

This list would not be complete without at least one wireless tool.

Every network engineer has to cope with WiFi at some point. Most of them don’t need the full-blown capability of a complex spectrum analyzer. Usually, they just need to know what access points, networks, signal strength and channels are available at a given spot. To find this out, a tool like PRTG WiFi is a great place to start.

This tool shows channel usage, SSID availability, signal strength, noise and more. It fits in well when network engineers need to troubleshoot problems with the final hop.

These top 10 tools are great for network analysis and troubleshooting and should be a part of every engineer’s toolbox. They help with most of the issues that engineers face today and can go a long way in resolving network problems quickly.