NET11 - Module 1 Task - Internet Tools

Traceroute

Traceroute is a way of tracing hops or computers between you and the networked computer you are trying to reach.

Task

Next find a site that provides the common internet tools (traceroute, ping) some examples include http://webct.curtin.edu.au/SCRIPT/305033_a/scripts/student/button_bar/305033_a/mod1t.html?STATIC+1590035366# or http://webct.curtin.edu.au/SCRIPT/305033_a/scripts/student/button_bar/305033_a/mod1t.html?STATIC+1590035366#
Using the traceroute tool, answer the following questions:
Traceroute from the chosen site to curtin.edu.au - cut and paste the entire list of 'hops' from there to Curtin. > see below
How many ‘hops’ are there? 19
what is the average time in milliseconds from the tools site to the curtin server?

It seems there was 19 hops and an average of 246 ms.

Further Exploration

A-ToolBar 3.1
4C Software · www.metaeureka.com

INSTALLING FREEWARE - Risks

I've been burnt so many times installing stuff on my pc that trashes it.The first thing I always do is create a restore point in case it installs something I dont like, possibly spyware, some kind of deep rooted unremovable registry stuff or worse still, has an incomplete installer. I then visit the vendor website and walk through a few screeenshots and if I'm still not sure about what it does, I'll download the installation guide or the product manual. I know this sounds paranoid - but all it takes is one click and before you know it, there could be a whole heap of consequences - loosing data, viruses, spyware, malware, identity theft, fraud etc etc etc - I avoid it.

A toolbar, oh no, theyre usually pretty dodgey kind of apps but doesnt look too bad, actually looks quite useful (love all those buttons and icons - what do they mean!) - but it doesnt say it supports VISTA and secondly going to the parent site no information about the product or anything else.

This will just have to be what we call in the software industry a 'suck and see' exercise. Here goes ...

This exercise didnt really need to install the toolbar and it was one those dodgey programs that left crap in the registry including startup and registry items - its taken me a good while to hunt them all out. I may have thought the course preparer may have researched these apps more in this regard - but on a another note - it shows this application isnt very well packaged if they couldnt get this right ... some may even call it sloppy. I could have just used a DOS prompt - maybe I'll read ahead in the whole question next time. The toolbar seems interesting though - particularly the sniffer - I think I'll keep it for a while and check it out when I get a moment. (take 2 - half the stuff just doesnt work!).

THE RESULTS


Clearly the ping times are lower directly from me. My isp is perth based so I expected this.


The traceroute showed the following, which was a bit of a surprise, as it hopped the same amount of times (19) but the average time was faster - I blanked out the first line to hode the identity of my home network !

Learning resources :

Network-tools.com

A toolbar from Eureka

Command prompt

Course notes

NET11 - Module 1 Task - File Transer Protocol (FTP)

File Transfer Protocol. This is the language used for file transfer from computer to computer across the WWW. An anonymous FTP is a file transfer between locations that does not require users to identify themselves with a password or log-in. An anonymous FTP is not secure, because it can be accessed by any other user of the WWW.

Task issue 1
Every time you have to install an application to Vista - you think, is that application going to work. It casts more doubt in your mind than good. I remember Ann Belle mentioning a Vista client in the discussion forums - so I used it instead, Simple FTP Client. Ive used WS FTP before to place product patches/Flex licencing managers where customers could download them. The latest version also isnt free. Simple FTP is REALLY SIMPLE.

Seem to get here easily, but having troubles navigating.
Issue 2 - cant find the readme! Is it me or is it the connection or the application. Anyhow try again ok good, seeing more, oh its hung again, nothing happening, restart, more entries, here we are, found the right folder, ok downloaded it locally, snip it!

Note - readme now on my pc.

The missing word is CAPITALIZATION !