Introduction
In the field of IT, mastering the Command Prompt (CMD) is a must. It’s a lightweight, powerful tool for diagnosing network issues, managing processes, and executing system-level tasks. This guide covers the most essential command prompt commands every IT support professional or network admin should know—with IP address examples included for clarity.
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1. ipconfig Check IP Address and Network Info
Usage:
ipconfig
Example Output:
IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.101
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
Why it’s useful:
Shows your PC’s current IP configuration, helping you verify network setup or resolve connectivity issues.
📘 Learn more: Microsoft Official Docs – ipconfig
2. ping – Test Network Connection
Usage:
ping 8.8.8.8
Why it’s useful:
Tests if your system can reach another device or server.
In this example, 8.8.8.8 is Google’s public DNS server, commonly used for connectivity testing.
Sample Output:
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=15ms TTL=117
3. tracert – Trace Route to Destination
Usage:
tracert 8.8.8.8
Why it’s useful:
Displays each hop (router) your packet travels through to reach the destination IP. Useful to diagnose where delays occur.
Sample Output:
1 <1 ms <1 ms <1 ms 192.168.1.1
2 5 ms 6 ms 5 ms 100.64.0.1
3 10 ms 10 ms 11 ms 8.8.8.8
4. netstat – View Network Connections
Usage:
netstat -an
Why it’s useful:
Shows active network connections and listening ports.
Sample Output:
TCP 192.168.1.101:56789 93.184.216.34:443 ESTABLISHED
TCP 192.168.1.101:56790 8.8.8.8:53 TIME_WAIT
Here, 192.168.1.101 is your local IP, and 8.8.8.8 or 93.184.216.34 are remote hosts.
5. tasklist – List Running Processes
Usage:
tasklist
Why it’s useful:
Displays all running processes. While no IPS are involved directly, it helps identify resource heavy or suspicious tasks tied to network activity.
6. taskkill – Terminate a Process
Usage:
taskkill /IM chrome.exe /F
Why it’s useful:
Closes unresponsive applications. Useful when a process is stuck during a remote support session—especially if it’s using an open network connection like a browser.
7. chkdsk – Check Disk Health
Usage:
chkdsk C:
Why it’s useful:
Scans the drive for file system errors—while not related to IP, it’s crucial for maintaining systems that host network services.
8. sfc /scannow – Scan and Fix System Files
Usage:
sfc /scannow
Why it’s useful:
Fixes corrupt system files that may be causing network or application crashes. Again, no direct IP use, but very useful in broader IT health checks.
9. shutdown – Restart or Shut Down a Remote Computer
Usage (local):
shutdown /r /t 0
Usage (remote with IP):
shutdown /m \\192.168.1.105 /r /t 0
Why it’s useful:
Allows you to remotely restart a system via IP. Replace 192.168.1.105 with the actual IP of the target computer on your network.
10. cls – Clear the Screen
Usage:
cls
Why it’s useful:
Clears the clutter from the command window—useful during step-by-step troubleshooting or training sessions.
Conclusion
These basic command prompt commands—enhanced with real IP examples—are powerful tools in an IT professional’s arsenal. Whether you’re managing a single machine or an enterprise network, mastering CMD improves speed, efficiency, and control over IT environments.
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