Netcat and Test-NetConnection:

Netcat:

• Netcat (nc) is a versatile networking utility available on Linux and macOS.
• It can be used to establish connections, listen for connections, and send/receive data.
• Running nc requires at least two arguments: a host and a port.
• For example, nc google.com 80 attempts to establish a connection to port 80 on google.com.
• Adding the z flag (zero I/O mode) and v flag (verbose) can test port status without sending data.
• Netcat's versatility makes it useful for various networking tasks.

Test-NetConnection (Windows):

• Test-NetConnection is a Windows command for testing network connectivity.
• With just a host specified, it performs an ICMP echo request (similar to ping) and provides detailed output.
• Adding the Port flag lets you test connectivity to a specific port on the host.
• Test-NetConnection provides information about the data link layer protocol being used.

Functionality Beyond Port Connectivity:

• Both Netcat and Test-NetConnection offer more advanced functionalities beyond testing port connectivity.
• These tools are powerful and complex, capable of various network-related tasks.
• While this overview covers basic port connectivity, exploring their full capabilities is recommended for network troubleshooting and exploration.

Usage Note:

• Both Netcat and Test-NetConnection are advanced tools that offer extensive features.
• To fully utilize their capabilities, it's advisable to read their documentation and guides to learn about their broader functionalities.