CertiGuide to A+ (A+ 4 Real)  9  Chapter 14: Networks       9  What is a Network?            9  Network Utilities

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A common task when troubleshooting network issues is to check the network configuration of the local machine. Under Windows NT, 2000, XP and 2003, the IPCONFIG command gives you all the information you need. It should be run from the command prompt, and its basic output is as shown in Figure 445.

Each installed network adapter is listed with its basic configuration and status. IPCONFIG has a more comprehensive reporting mode, accessible by using the /ALL switch.

IPCONFIG has a number of other switches. When troubleshooting DHCP related issues, the /RELEASE and /RENEW switches are invaluable. If you are experiencing problems obtaining an IP address from a DHCP server, using these switches will quickly allow you to force Windows to attempt to obtain a new IP address. This saves many unnecessary reboots when troubleshooting an issue; just type IPCONFIG /RELEASE to release your existing IP address, then type IPCONFIG /RENEW to retrieve a new one.

WINIPCFG is the Windows 95 and Windows 98 equivalent of IPCONFIG. It provides much the same information but in a GUI format instead of command prompt output

When troubleshooting network issues on a client machine, these tools should be your first stop to make sure everything is correctly configured.

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