Wednesday, January 9, 2013
New SSL Certificate Scanner on video
NetScanTools Pro v11.40 now includes a new tool called the SSL Certificate Scanner. Use it to collect and verify the expiration status of SSL certificates on a list of https secure web servers. Here is a video overview of the tool.
How to save XML results files from Switch Lists
This question has come up frequently from people who are using Managed Switch Port Mapping Tool v2.x in Switch List mode (this mode means two or more switches are mapped in succession).
To make individual XML files for each switch as it goes, go to the Switch List Editor and make sure 'save switch results as xml files after each switch mapping' is checked. This setting is different for each separate switch list and should be on by default.
Next, change your command line to:
spmap.exe -maplist TheSwitchListName -postexit
This tells the app to map the named list and exit when complete.
Here is the part people have a problem with: The files will be saved to either My Documents or the last used directory you saved XML files to from the menu.
You can override the path manually by mapping any switch or reloading results from history, then right click and select Export XML. Save the results to the directory you want everything to go to. When you run the switch list, it will save in that last location.
The XML filenames will have the format:
switch-ip_a.ip_b.ip_c.ip_d-unixTimestamp.xml
Please be aware that the command line option -xml D:\switch.xml only works for a single switch.
This will be documented more fully in a subsequent release. You can get the application at http://www.SwitchPortMapper.com/
To make individual XML files for each switch as it goes, go to the Switch List Editor and make sure 'save switch results as xml files after each switch mapping' is checked. This setting is different for each separate switch list and should be on by default.
Next, change your command line to:
spmap.exe -maplist TheSwitchListName -postexit
This tells the app to map the named list and exit when complete.
Here is the part people have a problem with: The files will be saved to either My Documents or the last used directory you saved XML files to from the menu.
You can override the path manually by mapping any switch or reloading results from history, then right click and select Export XML. Save the results to the directory you want everything to go to. When you run the switch list, it will save in that last location.
The XML filenames will have the format:
switch-ip_a.ip_b.ip_c.ip_d-unixTimestamp.xml
Please be aware that the command line option -xml D:\switch.xml only works for a single switch.
This will be documented more fully in a subsequent release. You can get the application at http://www.SwitchPortMapper.com/
Monday, January 7, 2013
NetScanTools Pro v11.40 Released
NetScanTools Pro v11.40 was released on December 28, 2012 and is ready for download now.
It adds a new tool called the SSL Certificate Scanner. This tool takes a list of https enabled websites as input and it retrieves the SSL certificate from each site's web server for your review. It will tell you if a certificate has expired. It also checks the server to see if it allows weak SSLv2 connections. It shows you the current connection bits too.
Many other changes were made to the program. Several user interface related things were done such as slightly increasing the height of all buttons. There is now a way to right click and remove a tool from the Favorites control bar.
IPv6: each release brings more IPv6 functionality and we added display of IPv6 TCP and UDP listening ports and connections to the Network Connection Endpoints tool. Just like with IPv4, it shows the IPv6 addresses and port numbers.
Port Scanner has been improved. It now displays a combined report showing all scanned port status when you are scanning multiple targets. There are also new right click menu options.
There will be a separate post detailing the SSL Certificate Scanner soon.
If you have an active maintenance plan, please download v11.40 today.
It adds a new tool called the SSL Certificate Scanner. This tool takes a list of https enabled websites as input and it retrieves the SSL certificate from each site's web server for your review. It will tell you if a certificate has expired. It also checks the server to see if it allows weak SSLv2 connections. It shows you the current connection bits too.
Many other changes were made to the program. Several user interface related things were done such as slightly increasing the height of all buttons. There is now a way to right click and remove a tool from the Favorites control bar.
IPv6: each release brings more IPv6 functionality and we added display of IPv6 TCP and UDP listening ports and connections to the Network Connection Endpoints tool. Just like with IPv4, it shows the IPv6 addresses and port numbers.
Port Scanner has been improved. It now displays a combined report showing all scanned port status when you are scanning multiple targets. There are also new right click menu options.
There will be a separate post detailing the SSL Certificate Scanner soon.
If you have an active maintenance plan, please download v11.40 today.
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Managed Switch Port Mapping Tool version 2 Released
On November 23, 2012, we published the first release of Managed Switch Port Mapping Tool version 2 after three years of work. Version 2 is a truly major release adding many new features that have been requested by our users for quite awhile.
Switch Lists - map a list of predefined switches and automatically save their results to the History Database.
History Database - all switch mappings are automatically saved here, both from manual or switch list mappings. The database is searchable. Review a mapping later by loading it back into the results grid.
SNMPv3 - supports USM style SNMPv3 requests.
Command Line - run the app from the command line using various options. Use Windows Task Scheduler to map a switch or switch list when you need it mapped.
New Columns - 16 new columns supporting RMON and Cisco packet related counters including overruns etc. These columns include things like CRC errors, framing errors, overrun errors, ignored errors, collision errors, fragmented packet counts, and oversize or undersize packet counts.
The most important new columns are LLDP (link layer discovery protocol) and CDP (Cisco discovery protocol). If the switch is configured to communicate with these protocols, you can see devices like other switches and routers directly connected to a switch port. Information like mac address, IP address and capabilities are showed along with the attached device's corresponding physical port.
Faster - supports SNMP v2c/v3 Bulk Transfer mode to reduce required SNMP bandwidth.
Import ARP tables from text files. Use this for networks where IP/MAC address pairings are known.
Updated User Interface - has the Windows 8/Office 2013 look and feel using skins. You can change the appearance of the program to other styles. There have been a few fine tuning releases since the initial release of v2 and we think you will agree that this is the best switch port mapping application available. Get it at http://www.SwitchPortMapper.com/
Switch Lists - map a list of predefined switches and automatically save their results to the History Database.
History Database - all switch mappings are automatically saved here, both from manual or switch list mappings. The database is searchable. Review a mapping later by loading it back into the results grid.
SNMPv3 - supports USM style SNMPv3 requests.
Command Line - run the app from the command line using various options. Use Windows Task Scheduler to map a switch or switch list when you need it mapped.
New Columns - 16 new columns supporting RMON and Cisco packet related counters including overruns etc. These columns include things like CRC errors, framing errors, overrun errors, ignored errors, collision errors, fragmented packet counts, and oversize or undersize packet counts.
The most important new columns are LLDP (link layer discovery protocol) and CDP (Cisco discovery protocol). If the switch is configured to communicate with these protocols, you can see devices like other switches and routers directly connected to a switch port. Information like mac address, IP address and capabilities are showed along with the attached device's corresponding physical port.
Faster - supports SNMP v2c/v3 Bulk Transfer mode to reduce required SNMP bandwidth.
Import ARP tables from text files. Use this for networks where IP/MAC address pairings are known.
Updated User Interface - has the Windows 8/Office 2013 look and feel using skins. You can change the appearance of the program to other styles. There have been a few fine tuning releases since the initial release of v2 and we think you will agree that this is the best switch port mapping application available. Get it at http://www.SwitchPortMapper.com/
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Packet Flooder on Windows 8
A comment about using NetScanTools Pro v11 Packet Flooder on Windows 8. The default settings will only get you about 40% saturation on Win 8 32 or 64 bit. Our recent tests on 8-64 show that if you change the Data Payload Length to Fixed and select the MTU (usually 1460) or slightly below, you can get 95% saturation. Microsoft has changed some of the way the network layer operates since Windows 7.
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
How to install NetScanTools Pro or WinPcap on Windows 8
WinPcap is the packet capture driver used in both NetScanTools Pro and LE. If you try to run the NetScanTools installer, everything appears to install OK until you get to the WinPcap 4.1.2 installer that we launch separately. The WinPcap installer refuses to run and shows an error about an unsupported operating system.
The solution is to run the installer in compability mode. Here's how:
1. from within Windows 8 (32 or 64 bit) get to the desktop and launch Windows Explorer.
2. locate your installer file, example: nst*.exe or WinPcap_4_1_2.exe (get WinPcap here) and right click on it to bring up the popup menu.
3. select "Troubleshoot compatibility" and wait a few seconds for it to do it's thing. Then click on "Try recommended settings". It will most likely show Windows Compatibility Mode of Windows XP (service pack 3).
4. Click on "Test the program..." the installer will start - follow the installer directions as you normally would. When you get to actually running the WinPcap installer you may see a message "This program has compatibility issues" - select "Run the program without getting help". WinPcap should now install.
5. When it's all done, click on Cancel instead of Next back on the Program Compatibility Troubleshooter window.
The problem is not NetScanTools Pro/LE. Those installers both launch the WinPcap installer. It is the WinPcap installer that needs to be updated.
The good part is WinPcap works fine on Windows 8 once it is installed.
Update Nov 17, 2012: winpcap.org still shows version 4.1.2. We still are waiting on an updated WinPcap installer.
The solution is to run the installer in compability mode. Here's how:
1. from within Windows 8 (32 or 64 bit) get to the desktop and launch Windows Explorer.
2. locate your installer file, example: nst*.exe or WinPcap_4_1_2.exe (get WinPcap here) and right click on it to bring up the popup menu.
3. select "Troubleshoot compatibility" and wait a few seconds for it to do it's thing. Then click on "Try recommended settings". It will most likely show Windows Compatibility Mode of Windows XP (service pack 3).
4. Click on "Test the program..." the installer will start - follow the installer directions as you normally would. When you get to actually running the WinPcap installer you may see a message "This program has compatibility issues" - select "Run the program without getting help". WinPcap should now install.
5. When it's all done, click on Cancel instead of Next back on the Program Compatibility Troubleshooter window.
The problem is not NetScanTools Pro/LE. Those installers both launch the WinPcap installer. It is the WinPcap installer that needs to be updated.
The good part is WinPcap works fine on Windows 8 once it is installed.
Update Nov 17, 2012: winpcap.org still shows version 4.1.2. We still are waiting on an updated WinPcap installer.
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
What did they do to Skype on Windows 8?
I'm a long time Skype user. Let me qualify that - I've used the free version of Skype for years on an old Vista laptop. I'm used to being able to do conferencing and have all sorts of options and settings. We just got an inexpensive Lenovo laptop for my daughter and it came with Windows 8. So I decided to get the Skype free version up and running so she could do the same thing with another sibling. Installation was different - having to go through the 'Store' and all, but I though OK...whatever.
Then I started it up. Unrecognizable. It made me login with a Microsoft Live or Hotmail account instead of creating a Skype account. And then were almost zero options. I finally figured out how to look for the other pre-Microsoft Skype accounts that I wanted her to have access to and got those listed.
What threw me was the UI. In an effort to simplify it and make it useful to mobile platforms (which a classic laptop is not really) they've oversimplified it. I couldn't find camera controls, mic controls or anything I was used to. Maybe I'm overlooking them, but as a developer who has developed Windows programs since 3.1, this is a bit too simple for me. How do you do voice only conference calls? Group video calling? Couldn't find them. Right clicking didn't help. Maybe they are in a different version. Where are those things?
Then I started it up. Unrecognizable. It made me login with a Microsoft Live or Hotmail account instead of creating a Skype account. And then were almost zero options. I finally figured out how to look for the other pre-Microsoft Skype accounts that I wanted her to have access to and got those listed.
What threw me was the UI. In an effort to simplify it and make it useful to mobile platforms (which a classic laptop is not really) they've oversimplified it. I couldn't find camera controls, mic controls or anything I was used to. Maybe I'm overlooking them, but as a developer who has developed Windows programs since 3.1, this is a bit too simple for me. How do you do voice only conference calls? Group video calling? Couldn't find them. Right clicking didn't help. Maybe they are in a different version. Where are those things?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)