Network Tools

[FordGT90Concept]

GAH !!! Ford you Slacker !!!

You're not even checking for well formed domain names before running the tests?

Bad coder !! Now off to your room with no dinner.

Some tests I do, some I don't. The main reason being is that the input could be IPv6, IPv4, a combination of both, or a domain name. I leave it to Dns.GetHostEntry() to sort out what's what and handle it if it is clueless.


1.5.1 uploaded. I changed several things in regards to both Trace Route actions.

 

[Kreij]

Just teasing on the input checks.

No change for me in either TR function.
TR gives me timeouts, TRA give me unreachable.

Suggestion : Since you added the clear display (which works great, thank you) now would be a good time to add a "Copy results to clipboard" button to make things even easier.

 

[FordGT90Concept]

No change for me in either TR function.
TR gives me timeouts, TRA give me unreachable.

What does Ping do? The Ping code is effectively the same as the Trace Route code (only difference is the TimeToLive attribute).

Suggestion : Since you added the clear display (which works great, thank you) now would be a good time to add a "Copy results to clipboard" button to make things even easier.

I'm running out of space up there.

 

[lemonadesoda]

Time to program a drop-down

Nice recycleable code.

OMG I've got to download ANOTHER version. This utility I have downloaded more times per day than any other utility ever.

 

[oily_17]

For me

Ping gives timeouts, TR gives me timeouts, TRA give me unreachable and IS finds my PC's and router and then "stops working"

 

[Kreij]

What does Ping do? The Ping code is effectively the same as the Trace Route code (only difference is the TimeToLive attribute).

Pinging techpowerup.com [74.86.91.2] with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from 74.86.91.2: bytes=32 time=629ms TTL=128
Reply from 74.86.91.2: bytes=32 time=397ms TTL=128
Reply from 74.86.91.2: bytes=32 time=605ms TTL=128
Reply from 74.86.91.2: bytes=32 time=794ms TTL=128
Ping statistics for 74.86.91.2:
	Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
	Minimum = 397ms, Maximum = 794ms, Average = 606ms

I'm running out of space up there.

Add a menu strip on the top above the buttons for less used utilities and such.

This is a great utility and the people here are gonna break your balls until it's perfect. lol

 

[FordGT90Concept]

Nice recycleable code.

That's the sad part, it really isn't. It won't be designed around recycleability until 2.0. This is more or less "proof of concept." That is, find out what works best so I see the whole picture before I stick it in a box and shake it up.

For me

Ping gives timeouts, TR gives me timeouts, TRA give me unreachable and IS finds my PC's and router and then "stops working"

I'm working on changing all three over to .NET Ping class instead of my custom ICMP class. Hopefully that will work for everyone.

Not sure why Intranet Scan would stop responding beyond the ~257 threads issue (similar to what Solaris is having problems with). I could break it up to fewer threads but every time the number of threads is halved, so is the performance.

Add a menu strip on the top above the buttons for less used utilities and such.

I think that's what I'll do....

File ->
-Exit

With Output ->
-Copy to Clipboard
-Clear

This is a great utility and the people here are gonna break your balls until it's perfect. lol

I noticed. I haven't got much GTA4 game time in (it's minimized).

 

[Kreij]

I've started on some concepts for the 2.0 GUI that I will run past you.
Try to put everything you can in static classes so they can be called without having to instantiate the class and can be eventually put into DLLs.
Just keep working on the network code.

I don't want to horn-in on your project, not do I want any credit, but dammit man, you are going to need some help if you want more GTA4 time.

 

[FordGT90Concept]

Try to put everything you can in static classes so they can be called without having to instantiate the class and can be eventually put into DLLs.

All classes heavily rely on delegates/events in order to handle the multithreading nature of everything. As such, it is not a good idea to make them static.

All it would take is a copy and paste to another project to build them into a DLL. One can reference the current executable ("NetTool" namespace) to gain access to most of the existing classes/delegates. The events currently return params through an object[] so it's not very user friendly yet.

 

[Kreij]

2.0 Gui

Okay here is something I tossed together.

The buttons are created dynamically by information entered into an XML file.
The reason I did this is so that the text can be changed easily. You cannot really add more buttons ad-hoc (as there will be no code behind them), but it makes life a little easier for version changes if need be. I just added three, but in the working version there will be everything.

The settings GroupBox control labels will change depending on the button pressed. I just put something in the labels to view. Also the settings GroupBox text would change to let you know what you are changing the settings for.

The "Run" button, once clicked, will change to the "Stop" button so we do not need two buttons on the interface to start and stop tests.

I added a status strip at the bottom for realtime information of what is currently going on. There is nothing there now, but we can add labels and progress bars for nice effect.

Like I said, this is a quick mock up. I am putting this out so that maybe other TPU'ers will give feedback on the GUI (instead of just PM you).

 

[FordGT90Concept]

Trace Route is updated. All that's left is Trace Route (Advanced).

I hope it fixes all the problems...

The buttons are created dynamically by information entered into an XML file.
The reason I did this is so that the text can be changed easily. You cannot really add more buttons ad-hoc (as there will be no code behind them), but it makes life a little easier for version changes if need be. I just added three, but in the working version there will be everything.

The text can already be changed easily:

        public const string ACT_PING = "Ping";
        public const string ACT_TRACE_ROUTE = "Trace Route";
        public const string ACT_TRACE_ROUTE_ADVANCED = "Trace Route (Advanced)";
        public const string ACT_PORT_SCAN = "Port Scan";
        public const string ACT_REMOTE_PORT_SCAN = "Remote Port Scan";
        public const string ACT_INTRANET_SCAN = "Intranet Scan";
        public const string ACT_INTRANET_SCAN_SORTED = "Intranet Scan (Sorted)";
        public const string ACT_DNS_RECORD = "DNS Record";
        public const string ACT_DNS_RESOLVE = "DNS Resolve";
        public const string ACT_DNS_RESOLVE_ADVANCED = "DNS Resolve (Advanced)";
        public const string ACT_WHOIS_DOMAIN = "Whois (Domain)";
        public const string ACT_WHOIS_NAMESERVER = "Whois (Name Server)";
        public const string ACT_WHOIS_REGISTRAR = "Whois (Registrar)";

The next build will make that available to you via StaticMethods.


My highest priority is to keep only one file (offers many advantages) so if there were any XML files, they would have to be an embeded resource.


Edit: The GUI version won't need Intranet Scan (Sorted). The GUI will be able to sort according to column.

 

[Kreij]

Yes, but in order to change the text of a button (or whatever) it would require recompiling the executable if you setting it in the code. Not so if the app pulls the data out of an XML file.

Xml files do not have to be embedded resources. When you create the setup project for the app they will be included in the installation directory.

I love this stuff. Thanks for putting up with my ideas Ford, and feel free to trash anything I say any time.

 

[Kreij]

Okay, Mrs. Kreij just told me I need to redesign the interior of the 40x60 ft outbuilding we have under construction. It's too late in the evening to have my brain processing that and the networking coding. I am just going to do a system pause and go to bed. Back tomorrow.

Have a good evening all.

 

[FordGT90Concept]

1.5.2 uploaded. If there is still problems, I have a theory as to why...


G'Nite Kreij

 

[Kreij]

Pulled 1.5.2 here at work (DSL, not satellite).

All 3 output area menu functions work perfectly for me. Nice job and it unclutters the IO area a bit

Intranet scan works and is sorted. It would still be nice to see device names though. Maybe you could incorporate an option to either do a fast (no/few names) or a slow (does everything it can to find the name even though the timeouts take a long time) scan.

How about the ability to input a desired range on the intranet scan? (eg. 150 - 200)

 

[lemonadesoda]

I think that's what I'll do....

File ->
-Exit

With Output ->
-Copy to Clipboard
-Clear

Better standard to follow... and will give room for logical expansion:

File -> Print
File -> Send console to email
File -> Exit

Edit -> Copy

View -> Fullscreen
View -> Clear

Help -> TPU help page

Your suggested "with output" menu bar shows you need some sleep. The blurry line between reality and a programmers brain is getting wooly. I dread to think how you are talking with your family right now!

 

[FordGT90Concept]

Intranet scan works and is sorted. It would still be nice to see device names though. Maybe you could incorporate an option to either do a fast (no/few names) or a slow (does everything it can to find the name even though the timeouts take a long time) scan.

Does "net view" work to get the names (in command prompt)?

How about the ability to input a desired range on the intranet scan? (eg. 150 - 200)

I can do that...

Better standard to follow... and will give room for logical expansion:

File -> Print
File -> Send console to email
File -> Exit

Edit -> Copy

View -> Fullscreen
View -> Clear

Help -> TPU help page

Your suggested "with output" menu bar shows you need some sleep. The blurry line between reality and a programmers brain is getting wooly. I dread to think how you are talking with your family right now!

Yeah, it was past my bed time. It is "Output Area" in the most recent build. Saying "View" isn't specific enough because "View -> Clear" could imply it will reset the entire GUI.

If you think you will use Send to Email, I'll add it. .NET doesn't like printers very much so I think that's more work than it's worth.

I will add Help -> Link to TPU.

 

[Kreij]

Yes, Net View shows computer names (including printers) but no IP Addresses.

 

[FordGT90Concept]

Yes, Net View shows computer names (including printers) but no IP Addresses.

I'm not sure why it can't get them.

You got any code that does work?


1.5.3 uploaded with the suggestions above implemented.

 

[Kreij]

I'm not sure why it can't get them.

You got any code that does work?

The code I posted (post #107) using ping and then the System.Management classes works for me, but that is the code that was giving you access denied exceptions when run from your server.
I don't have a server machine with VS on it to debug that unfortunately.

 

[FordGT90Concept]

You think Dns.GetHostEntry or Management is faster? I could do the faster one and do the other for all those that the first didn't get.


Is the one that returns a name (250) the domain name server and all the rest are members of that domain? If so, that explains it. The server has all the domain name information and expects all requests to be serviced through it.


Edit: I tried it and it takes twice as long (32 seconds instead of 16). That could be because of my D-Link router...

Anyway, I'll upload it and hopefully it will get the names...


Edit: 1.5.4 uploaded for you.

 

[Kreij]

Sorry I didn't get back right away. I'm coding here myself

Both IS's work great. Found all the names. Took 46 seconds for both. Excellent.
I will verify that the ones that only returned IPs are really not wondows devices.

I am going to delve into a way to get other information too (like printer names, if it's a switch or router, etc.) when I have some time.

 

[FordGT90Concept]

I'm mostly concerned about how much time it adds to the search.


It'll be irrelevant with a GUI but for the console structure, it causes pretty lengthy delays.

 

[Kreij]

Okay ... back at home. I pulled 1.5.4 and did some testing (Satellite connection)

TR(Adv) Worked !! W00t!

Tracing route to techpowerup.com [74.86.91.2]
over a maximum of 30 hops...
Traced to 22 addresses. Getting hostnames...
Hostnames obtained. Results:
Hop Latency IP Address Hostname
1 2 ms 10.10.10.50
2 75 ms 10.32.0.1
3 360 ms 10.242.20.1
4 721 ms 10.242.30.25
5 422 ms 10.242.30.1
6 452 ms 10.242.100.2
7 464 ms 10.242.110.2
8 667 ms 63.227.232.221 ewr-edge-10.inet.qwest.net
9 538 ms 67.14.7.30 ewr-core-02.inet.qwest.net
10 757 ms 205.171.17.158 ewr-brdr-03.inet.qwest.net
11 532 ms 4.68.111.69 ge-4-16.car4.SanJose1.Level3.net
12 656 ms 4.68.99.62 ae-32-52.ebr2.Newark1.Level3.net
13 484 ms 4.69.132.101 ae-4-4.ebr2.Washington1.Level3.net
14 819 ms 4.69.134.158 ae-92-92.csw4.Washington1.Level3.net
15 165 ms 4.69.134.141 ae-91-91.ebr1.Washington1.Level3.net
16 117 ms 4.69.132.85 ae-2.ebr3.Atlanta2.Level3.net
17 143 ms 4.69.134.21 ae-7.ebr3.Dallas1.Level3.net
18 180 ms 4.69.145.136 ae-3-80.edge3.Dallas1.Level3.net
19 130 ms 4.71.198.18
20 125 ms 66.228.118.203
21 200 ms 66.228.118.182
22 116 ms 74.86.91.2 www1.techpowerup.com

Sometimes regular TR errors out with the typical "Stopped Working" message, but not always. Error says "An unhandled exception (System.NullReferenceException occurred in NetTool.exe[255]". When debugger starts in VS I get the old "Object reference not set to an instance of an object".

System.NullReferenceException was unhandled
  Message="Object reference not set to an instance of an object."
  Source="NetTool"
  StackTrace:
       at NetTool.TraceRoute.Looper(Object host)
       at System.Threading.ExecutionContext.Run(ExecutionContext executionContext, ContextCallback callback, Object state)
       at System.Threading.ThreadHelper.ThreadStart(Object obj)
  InnerException:

I'm not sure if TR(Adv) fails like this also as I only ran it once.

As far as Intranet Scan speeds, it found all the network devices at work and filled in the names in under a minute. That's the fastest I've ever seen that on my network. There are ~45 devices (can't count them, not at work. lol) which averages about 1 second per device. I think that is outstanding !! No other program I have tested got that information that fast.

 

[FordGT90Concept]

I uploaded the debug version. Extract the PDB and EXE to the same directory and try to get the error to pop up. Hopefully the exception will include a line number for me so I can better know what's going wrong.


It's fast because I doubt anyone used ~257 to do an intranet scan. I imagine that's pretty hard on the hardware but as processors grow in number of cores, the workload per core diminishes.

I should really display a count of devices found...(done, but only on Intranet Scan Sorted)


Edit: If TR throws an exception, I can almost guarentee TRA is capable of doing the same. The only real difference between the two (and likewise for Intranet Scan vs Intranet Scan Sorted) is that instead of raising an event, they stick the results in an internal array. Once the Monitor thread sees all threads are dead, it raises an event containing the internal array. NetTool.TraceRoute.Looper, except for that little change, is effectively the same. Advanced and Sorted should actually be easier on the hardware because there are far fewer events to handle.