What is btop? btop (aka btop++) is a modern and visually appealing resource monitoring tool for Linux and other operating systems. It is part of the bpytop family, created by the same developer, and is written in C++ for performance and efficiency. Like htop, btop provides detailed information about system resources, including CPU, memory, disk […]
A Better Linux Resource Monitor Read More »
I get asked for this list all the time, so I thought I would just post it. There are others of course, so see the bottom of this post for some others, but if I had to just pick 10, these would be the ones. Links will send you to Amazon, where if you buy
The Top Ten Networking Books for Reference Read More »
Here is a list of interesting/useful network/IP commands for Windows. Most of these commands must be run from the CMD app. To do this Open Command Prompt: In the search bar, type cmd and press Enter, or press Win + R to open the Run dialog. Administrative Privileges: In some cases you will need to
Network/IP Commands for Windows Users Read More »
Whether you are performing preventive maintenance or repairing routers or switches or any other network equipment, you need a solid toolkit to easily perform the task. First, let me list for you what I have in my service/repair toolkit. These items are mostly available at Amazon, of course, and if you click any of the
Servicing or Repairing Network Equipment Read More »
The nslookup command is a built-in network administration tool available on Windows, macOS, and many Linux distributions. It is used to query DNS servers to retrieve information about domain names, IP addresses, and DNS records. Basic Syntax: nslookup [hostname] [DNS server] Components: Common Use Cases: Example Output: Query a Domain: nslookup example.com Output: Server: dns.googleAddress:
What is the ‘nslookup’ command, and how can I use it? Read More »
The dig command, short for “Domain Information Groper,” in Linux or MacOS is a command-line tool used to query Domain Name System (DNS) servers. The command is a lot like nslookup, but at the same time it is different. If you are a Windows user, you have to use nslookup. For a reference on nslookup
What is the ‘dig’ command, and how can I use it? Read More »
Looking for some ideas for what to gift someone in the tech/networking field? Here are some, but don’t forget – we have two other places to get things: our Wi-Fi Adapters that support monitor mode article and our “Go Bag” page. The links to the products shown here are all available through Amazon, and if
For all my troubleshooting network friends, I have compiled a list below of the top software-based network troubleshooting tools that you need to have and know. It you want to add hardware to your toolkit – have a look at our “Go Bag“ If you want to know more about the commands mentioned below check
Top 12 Network Troubleshooting Tools Read More »
The links to the products shown here are all available through Amazon, and if you use these links, we will get a small cut through our Amazon Associates program. We thank you for doing this. Updated 6/22/2025 I often get asked for a list of products that are in my “go bag”, when I work
The Network Products We Use in Our “Go Bag” Read More »
So often in Wireshark videos and classes we spend a lot of time on TCP behavior. But what I am about to discuss is hardly ever brought up. The answer to version is simple right? Version 4. OK, kind of right, but overlooking too much. The truth is that there are multiple “versions” of TCP,
Which Version of TCP are you using? Read More »
I understand the argument: Since there is so much TCP (HTTP anything, etc. etc.) this is what the user experiences. That argument has several issues. First, we need to discuss the problems with using TCP at all as there are technical reasons the idea does not align with the goal of speed tests. Second, the
Why TCP Should Never be Used for Speed Tests Read More »
Retransmissions of frames in WLANs (Wireless Local Area Networks) can become problematic for several reasons, primarily due to the nature of the wireless medium. While retransmissions are a necessary part of ensuring data integrity in unreliable networks, they can cause inefficiencies and degrade network performance. I will get to the details below, but let’s start
Recognizing WLAN Retransmissions is a Critical Skill Read More »
Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) is a measure of how strong a signal is compared to the background noise in a communication system. It is typically expressed in decibels (dB). The higher the SNR, the clearer and more reliable the signal. I often get asked, how is signal to noise calculated. Frankly the math is not hard.
The Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) Calculation Read More »
As most of my readers, students, and clients know, I absolutely love Wireshark. I deeply am infatuated with Wireshark’s Profiles, more properly called configuration profiles. So much so that many years ago now, I set up the first Wireshark Profiles Repository. 100’s of thousands of downloads have resulted, and I hope I have helped the
Automatically Switch Configuration Profiles in Wireshark Read More »
When you run a speed test, you are testing several key aspects of your internet connection. The purpose is to measure the performance of your connection to the internet in terms of download speed, upload speed, latency or delay, and jitter or delay variation. The problem is that not all speed tests are equal. In
What does an Internet Speed Test actually test? Read More »
