The Best Network Troubleshooting &

Diagnostics Tools
We show you the best network troubleshooting and
diagnostics tools that help make your job as a network
administrator easier and provide examples and
instructions to help you get started.

Network troubleshooting and diagnostic tools help network

administrators and technicians identify and resolve issues.

These tools are designed to analyze network performance, identify

problems, and provide insights into the functioning of the network.

Network analysis can show you the leading causes of network

problems such as; slow speeds, network connection
problems, packet loss on overloaded network devices or missing
information in your routing table and other system databases.

Here’s our list of the best network diagnostic tools and

troubleshooting software:

1. Datadog Network Performance Monitoring EDITOR’S

CHOICE A cloud-based network monitoring and management
service that includes autodiscovery, topology mapping,
performance alerts, and troubleshooting tools Start a 15-day
free trial.
2. SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager (FREE
TRIAL) An essential system security and administration tool
that automatically checks on device settings. The NCM will
gather all device configurations, allow the creation of standard
settings, and ensure that any unauthorized changes are
immediately rolled back. Start a 30-day free trial.
3. N-able N-sight (FREE TRIAL) A remote monitoring and
management tool that enables central IT departments to
manage networks on several remote sites. Get access to a 30-
day free trial.

1. central IT departments to manage networks on several remote

sites. Get access to a 30-day free trial.
2. ManageEngine OpManager Plus (FREE TRIAL) This bundle
of seven ManageEngine tools provides full network monitoring
and analysis capabilities. Installs on Windows Server and
Linux. Start a 30-day free trial.
3. Site24x7 Network Monitoring (FREE TRIAL) A cloud-based
service that monitors network devices, tracks traffic patterns,
provides capacity planning support, and offers troubleshooting
tools. Start a 30-day free trial.
4. Paessler Network Troubleshooting with
PRTG Infrastructure management system that includes port
monitoring.
5. Ping Simple command-line utility that checks on the speed of
connections.
6. Tracert Free command-line utility that lists the probable hops
to a network or internet destination address.
7. Ipconfig This command-line tool reports the IPv4 and IPv6
addresses, subnets, and default gateways for all network
adapters on a PC.
8. Netstat This tool displays active connections on your
computer.
9. Nslookup Available for Windows, Unix, Linux, and Mac OS,
this tool gives you DNS server diagnostics.
10. Uptrends Uptime Monitor A free online tool that will
make repeated checks on the availability of a website.
11. Sysinternals Set of Microsoft tools for Windows that help
troubleshoot and configure Active Directory.
12. Wireshark Free packet sniffer that will help you analyze
traffic flows.
 13. Nmap Network security and monitoring tool that needs a
companion utility, Zenmap, as a user interface.

Five of the tools in our list (ping, tracert, ipconfig, netstat,

& nslookup) can be executed directly from a Windows command
prompt (cmd.exe) without installing any additional programs for
advanced troubleshooting. The rest of the network analysis tools
can be used alone or in combination for network discovery.

1. Datadog Network Performance Monitoring (FREE TRIAL)

is a cloud-based monitoring system for IT resources that is

available as a menu of modules. The base package of the service is
an Infrastructure module that covers network monitoring. However,
this service can be enhanced by adding on the Network
Performance Monitoring module.

Key Features:

 Drill down into network flows and traces

 Locates traffic hogs
 Can monitor containers, pods, and deployments
 Great visualization and mapping

Why do we recommend it?

Datadog Network Performance Monitoring is a SaaS package

that provides device discovery, network mapping, and traffic
analysis. This tool can be slotted together with a Network Device
Monitoring service to get full, automated network monitoring.
Infrastructure and application monitoring tools on the platform
provide the opportunity to create a full-stack monitoring system.

The Network Performance Monitoring module of Datadog adds

on analytical functions to the Infrastructure package and includes
capacity planning and troubleshooting utilities. While the
Infrastructure module looks at device statuses, the Network
Performance Monitoring service examines traffic flows.

The Datadog system uses agent software on-site, but all

processing and data storage is implemented on the Datadog server.
Systems administrators access the Network Performance
Monitoring console through any browser in order to see live
statistics on current traffic flows on the network. Given that the
service is based in the cloud, it can easily monitor remote networks,
just as long as that network has the agent module installed on it.

The SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager offers the

opportunity to automate system troubleshooting and problem
resolution. Busy systems managers often overlook the settings of
network devices. The network could be performing badly because
you don’t have all of the settings of your devices coordinated. The
Network Configuration Manager saves you time by seeking out
all devices, the network device health, importing their settings
into a central manager, and allowing you to create a standard
configuration for each device type and make.

Key Features:

 Standardizes configurations
 Backs up configurations
 Rolls back unauthorized setup changes
 Spots intruder activity

Why do we recommend it?

SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager scans a network

and identifies all devices. It then enables the network manager to
create a standard setup for each type of device and then roll that
out. Those authorized configurations are stored by the Network
Configuration Manager and then the tool performs constant checks
on devices. If any changes occur to settings, the system
automatically restores the standard configuration by applying the
stored image.

The configuration manager rolls out the standard configurations that

you write into the central dashboard. This standardization should fix
a lot of the problems that you experience on your network because
it will wipe out inappropriate settings for network devices, such as
routers and switches that might be slowing down data transfers.
Once the standard configurations have been stored, they can only
be changed through the password-protected dashboard of the
Network Configuration Manager.

is a cloud-based remote monitoring and management software

package. As this system monitors the network, it also stores metrics
for analysis. Having access to all aspects of a system, including
endpoints and servers, N-able has many channels of data for
diagnostics and troubleshooting.

Key Features:

 Data retention for analysis

 LOGICcard advice
 30-day free trial

Why do we recommend it?

N-able N-sight is a cloud-based service that provides remote

monitoring systems for networks, servers, and applications. This
service includes a troubleshooting guide that identifies security
problems and other issues with networks, endpoints, and software.

gives you all the tools you need to monitor networks and servers.
These tasks are complex and could involve tracking the statuses of
containers, virtualization, file storage servers, firewalls, and IP
address-related issues. OpManager Plus takes care of all of those
tasks and also adds on an application performance monitor to
provide the full stack of IT services.
Key Features:

 Traffic analysis
 Device monitoring
 Configuration management

Why do we recommend it?

ManageEngine OpManager Plus combines automated monitoring

for networks and servers. The tool is also a good choice for its VM
monitoring capabilities. Troubleshooting tools in the software
include troubleshooting tools, such as NetFlow and other packet
data extraction protocols.

The OpManager Plus system gives you the tools to scrutinize and
manage network devices. The system automatically detects all
devices connected to the network, logs them, and then maps the
network. The system then provides constant performance
monitoring through SNMP.

discovers all of the devices on a network, creates a hardware

inventory, and draws up a network topology map. The package
implements continuous device performance monitoring and also
records traffic patterns to guard against system overloads.

Key features:

 Network discovery
 Network inventory and map
 Device fault detection

Why do we recommend it?

Site24x7 Network Monitoring uses the Simple Network

Management Protocol to identify all devices and create a map. The
inventory and map help with troubleshooting but the package goes
further, offering alerts when problems are detected, allowing time to
fix problems and identifying where the issue lies. The bundle also
provides Ping and Traceroute utilities to test connections.

The device agents scan each switch and router and raise alarms
when faults are discovered. These alarms get translated into alerts
in the Site24x7 dashboard. A traffic monitoring unit in the Site24x7
package will also generate alerts if traffic volumes rise close to the
full capacity of a switch interface. The Site24x7 system can be set
up to forward alerts as notifications to technicians by SMS, voice
call, email, or Slack message.

is a complete monitoring system. It can help you with

troubleshooting because it can diagnose network issues right down
the protocol stack and identify the root of the problem. Port
monitoring is one of the network diagnostics techniques that you
can use with this tool.

Key Features:

 TCP port auditor

 Port range checker
 30-day free trial

Why do we recommend it?

Paessler PRTG is a very large package of monitors that include

network, server, and application monitors and has sensors for
network troubleshooting including Ping implementations and a
TraceRoute facility.

The PRTG system includes two port monitoring sensors. One

homes in on a specified port on a particular device, the other will
check a range of port numbers. This tool only monitors TCP ports.
The port range sensor has one extra feature that the single port
sensor does not have. You can set it to check the port with TLS
protection. Both sensors report on the response time of the port and
whether it is open or closed.