As we delve more into the information technology era, obtaining robust connectivity between servers becomes something important that helps to maintain a healthy and efficient user experience.
Whether you are a system administrator, network engineer, or an IT enthusiast, understanding how to check the connectivity between two servers in a Windows environment is important to keep your network setup stable.
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In this article, I will be providing a comprehensive guide on various methods and tools available in Windows that you can use to examine and verify the connectivity between two servers.
This will cover a range of techniques, starting from basic commands that you easily access and use on your window to advanced tools. This checking process will help you figure out and proceed to resolve connectivity issues effectively.
What Are the Basics of Server Connectivity?
Before I proceed on what you can use for two Windows server connectivity, let me quickly discuss the fundamental concepts related to server connectivity. The basics will help understand how server connectivity works and these include;
IP Addresses and Subnets
IP address, the Internet Protocol that every device or server has provided it is connected to a network. Most devices share different IP addresses, while servers that are within the same network typically share a common subnet.
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IP addresses and subnets contribute to troubleshooting connectivity issues, so try to study them well.
Firewalls
You might find yourself in need of blocking or figuring out specific network traffic, either an ongoing or incoming one and that’s where Firewalls come in. A firewall helps to control both incoming and outgoing network traffic. When troubleshooting connectivity, try to study the firewall settings of the network.
Ports
Ports are used by servers to communicate with each other. Different services use different ports, so you must ensure that the required ports are open because that is important for connectivity. Common services include HTTP (port 80), HTTPS (port 443), and Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP – port 3389).
How to Check the Connectivity between Two Servers in Windows
Here, there are tools that falls either among the basics or advance ones that are used in checking the connectivity between two servers in windows. These include;
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Ping Command
The `ping` command is a basic, but also a powerful tool that is used in checking network connectivity. For the ping command to work, it sends ICMP (Internet Control Message Protocol) echo request packets to the target server and waits for a response.
To use `ping`, follow the below processes;
Startup your PC
Open or launch the Command Prompt on your PC
Type
ping <destination_ip_or_hostname>
In <destination_ip_or_hostname>, replace it with the actual IP address or hostname of the target server.
The Ping results breakdown:
– Reply from <IP>: Indicates the status of the connection.
– Request Timed Out: That means there might be a potential issue. Check firewalls, network configurations, or connectivity problems.
– Destination Host Unreachable: This means that the network couldn’t reach the destination.
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Tracert Command
The `tracert` (which is mostly referred as traceroute) command helps identify the route that packets take to reach the destination server. This provides valuable comprehensive information about the network path and can highlight potential issues.
To use `tracers`, follow the below processes;
Startup your PC
Open or launch the Command Prompt on your PC
Type
tracert <destination_ip_or_hostname>
Based on the output, review it and identify any unexpected delays or hops. Use the information for troubleshooting if necessary. In the destination IP or hostname, input the target server detail.
Starting from the next tool, Telnet to the last connection checking tool, they are all considered as the advanced ones. That means the two earlier tools are basic ones.
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Telnet
Telnet which is among the advanced tools, is a command-line tool that allows you to establish a connection to a remote server over a specific port. The tool is specifically used for checking whether a particular port is up, open, and responsive for use.
To use Telnet, follow the below processes;
Startup your PC
Open or launch the Command Prompt on your PC
Type
telnet <destination_ip_or_hostname> <port>
Just like the earlier tool, “<destination_ip_or_hostname>” should be replaced with the target server’s IP or hostname and “<port>” with the specific port you want to check. If the connection is successful, you’ll see a blank screen; otherwise, an error message will be displayed.
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Netstat
The “netstat” command provides information about network connections and some other factors that include routing tables, interface statistics, masquerade connections, and more. It’s used in identifying open ports on a server.
To view active connections using Netstat, follow the below processes;
Startup your PC
Open or launch the Command Prompt on your PC
Type
netstat -an
Among the entries, the ones in which their State is “LISTENING” are those in their ports that are opened on the server.
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PowerShell Commands
PowerShell offers several cmdlets for checking and managing network connectivity. Here are some useful examples:
– Test-NetConnection:
PowerShell
Test-NetConnection -ComputerName <destination> -Port <port>
This cmdlet tests the connection to a specific port on a remote server.
– Test-Connection:
PowerShell
Test-Connection -ComputerName <destination> -Count <number_of_pings>
This cmdlet performs a series of ping tests to the specified destination.
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Firewall Configuration
Sometimes, Firewalls can become a network error while establishing server connectivity. Make sure that the required ports are open on both the source and destination servers. Windows Firewall settings can be configured through the Control Panel of your PC or using PowerShell commands.
To check Windows Firewall rules using PowerShell, you can use the `Get-NetFirewallRule` cmdlet.
PowerShell
Get-NetFirewallRule | Where-Object { $_.DisplayName -like “TheRuleName” }
Replace “TheRuleName” with the name of the rule you are looking for.
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Wireshark
Wireshark is a powerful network protocol analyzer that allows you to capture and inspect the data traveling back and forth on a network. If you want an in-depth analysis of network communication, you should use this advanced tool.
Apart from basic connectivity check that Wireshark is used for, it is also helpful in identifying specific issues, such as malformed packets, unexpected traffic, or other anomalies.
How to Troubleshoot Connectivity between Two Servers in Windows
While checking the connectivity between two servers in Windows, you might want to proceed to troubleshoot the issues you find out. Here are some troubleshooting tips on connectivity between two servers in Windows.
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DNS Issues:
If you are using hostnames instead of IP addresses while networking, make sure that the DNS resolution is working correctly. Use the “nslookup” command to check DNS resolution.
nslookup <destination_hostname>
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Firewall Configuration:
Firewalls, both on the server and network level, can block incoming and outgoing connections. Go through your firewall rules and make sure that the configurations are set up well so that they allow the necessary traffic.
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Routing Problems:
Use the tracert” command to identify routing issues. If there are unexpected hops or significant delays on your network, investigate the routers and switches along the network path.
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IP Address Conflicts:
Ensure that there are no IP address conflicts on the network. Duplicate IP addresses can lead to connectivity problems.
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Security Software Interference:
Security software, such as antivirus programs, may have built-in firewalls that could interfere with server connectivity. While you are making tests, you can temporarily disable such kind of software.
Conclusion
Making sure that there is connectivity between two servers is a fundamental aspect of maintaining a reliable network infrastructure. The connectivity tools, starting from basic commands like `ping` to advanced tools like Wireshark, can be helpful for you in checking the connection on Windows operating system and will help you to obtain a robust set of utilities.
The basics of IP addresses, subnets, firewalls, and ports will help you understand more on windows servers’ connection. If you can monitor and test your server connection regularly, that will help you to identify potential issues before they impact on your network critical services.