Network Engineer Tools & Software
Tools for troubleshooting connections, analysing traffic, testing networks and managing network devices.
Who this toolkit is for
For network engineers and administrators who design, run and troubleshoot networks, and for students learning networking. Start with the essentials; specialist tools are there when a task calls for them.
Essential (7)
Core tools that are broadly useful.
Connectivity
The first check in almost every fault: can this device reach that one, and how quickly? Built-in tools cover most of it.
- pingBuilt into Windows
Why you may need this: Check whether a device or gateway responds, and how quickly.
ping example.comMicrosoft documentation
Packet Analysis
When the basics look fine but something still fails, the packets show what was really sent and received.
WiresharkOpen Source
Why you may need this: Inspect and troubleshoot network traffic and protocols.
Winget (verified)winget install --id WiresharkFoundation.Wireshark --exact --source winget
Network Discovery
Know what is on a network before you change it: which hosts are up and which services they expose. Only scan networks you manage.
NmapOpen Source
Why you may need this: Discover hosts and services on networks you administer.
Winget (verified)winget install --id Insecure.Nmap --exact --source winget
Routing & Path Analysis
Find where along the path latency or packet loss begins, rather than guessing which hop is at fault.
- tracertBuilt into Windows
Why you may need this: See each hop to a destination and where a connection fails.
tracert example.comMicrosoft documentation
DNS
Many "the network is down" reports turn out to be name resolution problems. Check DNS early.
- nslookupBuilt into Windows
Why you may need this: Check how names resolve and which server answers.
nslookup example.comMicrosoft documentation - ipconfigBuilt into Windows
Why you may need this: See your addresses and DNS servers, and flush the DNS cache.
ipconfig /allMicrosoft documentation
Remote Access
Manage routers, switches and servers securely over SSH, and reach console ports over serial when the network itself is the problem.
- OpenSSH
Open Source
Why you may need this: Log in securely to routers, switches and servers over SSH.
Visit Official Website
Recommended (10)
Useful for particular parts of the work or course.
Connectivity
The first check in almost every fault: can this device reach that one, and how quickly? Built-in tools cover most of it.
- Test-NetConnectionBuilt into Windows
Why you may need this: Test whether a specific TCP port is reachable from PowerShell.
Test-NetConnection example.com -Port 443Microsoft documentation
Routing & Path Analysis
Find where along the path latency or packet loss begins, rather than guessing which hop is at fault.
- WinMTR
Open Source
Why you may need this: Watch loss and latency at every hop over time.
Visit Official Website
Bandwidth Testing
Measure the throughput a link actually delivers between two points you control, instead of relying on speed-test websites.
Remote Access
Manage routers, switches and servers securely over SSH, and reach console ports over serial when the network itself is the problem.
- PuTTY
Open Source
Why you may need this: A graphical SSH and serial console client, handy for device consoles.
Winget (verified)winget install --id PuTTY.PuTTY --exact --source winget
File Transfer
Move configuration backups, firmware images and logs to and from devices over encrypted connections.
Network Monitoring
See which connections a machine has open and which program owns each one.
- TCPView
Free
Why you may need this: See live connections and which programs own them.
Winget (verified)winget install --id Microsoft.Sysinternals.TCPView --exact --source winget - netstatBuilt into Windows
Why you may need this: List connections and listening ports.
netstat -anoMicrosoft documentation
Terminal
Most network work happens at a command line, so a good terminal with tabs and persistent sessions saves time every day.
Windows TerminalOpen Source
Why you may need this: Run PowerShell, Command Prompt and SSH sessions in tabs.
Winget (verified)winget install --id Microsoft.WindowsTerminal --exact --source winget
Labs & Simulation
Test configuration changes and practise for certifications in a virtual network before touching anything real.
- GNS3
Open Source
Why you may need this: Build virtual networks with real router and switch images to test changes before touching production.
Visit Official Website
Documentation
Network diagrams and runbooks make faults faster to fix, for you and for whoever is on call next.
draw.io DesktopOpen Source
Why you may need this: Draw network diagrams and topology maps.
Winget (verified)winget install --id JGraph.Draw --exact --source winget
Specialist / Optional · Show specialist tools (7)
Consider these for particular modules, tasks or environments.
Connectivity
The first check in almost every fault: can this device reach that one, and how quickly? Built-in tools cover most of it.
- PsPing
Free
Why you may need this: Test TCP ports and latency where ICMP ping is blocked.
Visit Official Website
Packet Analysis
When the basics look fine but something still fails, the packets show what was really sent and received.
- TShark
Open Source
Why you may need this: Wireshark's analysis from the command line, for scripts and servers.
Visit Official Website
Network Discovery
Know what is on a network before you change it: which hosts are up and which services they expose. Only scan networks you manage.
- Angry IP Scanner
Open Source
Why you may need this: A simpler graphical scanner for quick sweeps.
Winget (verified)winget install --id angryziber.AngryIPScanner --exact --source winget Why you may need this: A free Windows scanner for local networks.
Winget (verified)winget install --id Famatech.AdvancedIPScanner --exact --source winget
File Transfer
Move configuration backups, firmware images and logs to and from devices over encrypted connections.
- FileZilla
Open Source
Why you may need this: Cross-platform SFTP and FTP client.
Visit Official Website
Labs & Simulation
Test configuration changes and practise for certifications in a virtual network before touching anything real.
Why you may need this: Cisco's free network simulator, widely used for CCNA study and quick topology experiments.
Visit Official Website
Documentation
Network diagrams and runbooks make faults faster to fix, for you and for whoever is on call next.
About this toolkit
Most network faults are found with a short, repeatable sequence: confirm connectivity with ping, check name resolution, trace the path, then capture packets only if the cause is still unclear. The categories above follow roughly that order, from the quick built-in checks to the specialist tools.
Many of the essentials are already part of your operating system. Windows includes ping, tracert, nslookup and the OpenSSH client; macOS and most Linux distributions include ping, traceroute and ssh, and usually dig and tcpdump as well. Install the specialist tools when you need them rather than all at once.
Choose the operating system above to see the tools available for it, with verified installation commands where Aptorise has them. Only scan, capture or test networks you manage or have permission to work on.
Build your Network Engineer setup
Build My Setup lets you add or remove apps, combine roles, see why each app is included, and get a single install command where verified packages exist. Nothing is installed automatically.