NetworkNick.net

Tools

I’ve broken down the tools I use frequently into a few categories. Being a fan of opensource/free software, most of the list is free.
Where I can, I’ve linked to the latest windows 32 binary version. If they aren’t available (or free) anymore, then I’ve hosted the version I use.

Planning, Connection, Configuration and Implementation:

TeraTerm – Great terminal app. Very customizable, supports macros, remote control, and SSH.
tftpd32 – The free tftp server that also includes a plethora of other features.
PuTTY – It’s not just an SSH client…
ProCurve Configurator – helps with part numbers and PoE planning for ProCurve products, no tech skills required
AboutTime Server – Multiprotocol time server, can run as a service
jEdit – It would be a lie to call it a text editor. I use the diff plugin and the lines plugin endlessly
Notepad2 – replacement for windows notepad
Expect – interactive scripting
MS 802.1x/PEAP kit – includes step by step details for a 802.1x PEAP deployment + scripts

Access Security, Management and Monitoring:

FreeRADIUS – self explanatory (now for Windows too!)
NetReg – DHCP registration and policy engine
ProCurve MIB Browser – just what it says, make sure to get the ProCurve MIB’s
ntop – traffic montoring, includes sflow support
MRTG – everyones favorite traffic monitor/reporter/trender
InMon sFlowTrend – sFlow traffic analyzer/reporting

Diagnostic and Simulation:

mperform – multicast simulator written by a ProCurve engineer
Tfgen – traffic generator
Wireshark (formerly Ethereal) – traffic capture and analysis, always updated decodes
Etherape – *NIX only graphical traffic representation tool (similar to Sniffer matrix view)
NetStumbler – wireless network scanner/lightweight analysis tool
Kismet – *NIX only wireless capture and analysis tool
VLC – media player (can serve as both multicast source and reciever)
Cygwin – run some *NIX apps on Windows in a nice and and tidy environment
VMWare Server and Player – sandbox, application simulation

Security:

macoff – fills a MAC table faster than you can say “backhoe fade!”
arpspoof/fragrouter – get in between traffic on a switched network
ettercap – based on above but uses them to devastating effect for anything cleartext and weak security protocols
Various pentest/security tools, the list is endless…
Get these and many, many others from the back|track live CD

Misc:

UltraVNC – Remote control supports encryption and key management. Also check out the reverse SC install. Great for helpdesk.
doPDF – Free PDF converter, no spyware
Sysinternals Process Explorer – task manager on steroids (replaces windows taskmgr.exe)

Here are a few tools that I use/recommend that aren’t free but I have no affiliation with them. (obligatory legalese)

AirMagnet Laptop Analyzer (full 802.11 decode and analysis suite)
Secure CRT
InMon Traffic Sentinel

Sample Configs:

Core/Distribution HA Config- Based on a 5400zl chassis, using the switch as a campus LAN router, redundantly connected to uplinks for edge switches and server/resource switches. Core 2 is here.

Edge HA Config- Based on a 3500yl stackable, using the switch as a campus LAN edge, redundantly connected to 2 distribution/core switches. Load balancing edge traffic with MSTP.

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