Essential Network Tools For Your Phone or Tablet

For the past year, I have been asked several times to put a list together of networking tools I use in my everyday network engineering.  All of the tools listed below are listed on Google Play.  There may be a version for some of these apps on the Apple Store.  Some of thet tools do the same tasks as others, so you can choose which tool best suites your needs. 

Wigle Wifi

Wigle Wifi is a android version for Netstumbler except better.  It will allow you to see a gps map of your where your access point is located.

Fing

Fing is a network mapping tool using ping.  You can change the network from wireless to wired  and It will tell you the device type on the network and allow you to do a port scan of that device.

GTech Net Tools

Is network mapper with a basic set of ip tools.

IP Tools

Is a great tool for troubleshooting IP.  It has ping, NSlookup, traceroute, a port scanner and net scanner.  The developer of this app abandoned it, but it is still a nice app.

Net Tools

Is good at troubleshooting IP.  It has ping, NSlookup, traceroute and some other tools.

Network Tester

This tool test for any bandwidth or throughput issues on your network.

IP Locator

Need to trace an ip address to a country or ISP, this is your tool.

G-Mon

If you need wifi access point information, ip information, cell service information and GPS information all in one app, this is the one for you.  Highly recommended.

AndFTP

A great little ftp client to connect to secure ftp as well as SCP servers.

TeamViewer

Do you need to connect to a teamviewer session on a computer?

Spiceworks

Allows you to connect to any Spiceworks application server to get information on your network.

VX ConnectBot

Great ssh and scp client that supports both ssh v1 and v2.

ICQ

I still have need to do some old school ICQ chatting.

AndChat

Great IRC client for connecting to a IRC server.

3CX Remote

This software allows you to connect to your phone from any web browser and partially control it.  You can transfer files, send text messages all through a web browser.

IP Calculator

Nice to have one in case you need it.

WebEx

Need to attend a WebEx meeting but do not have your lab top, no problem use your phone or tablet.

GoToMeeting

Need to attend a GoToMeeting, no problem again, use your phone.

CCNA Notes

Studying for CCNA and need a little quick help, this has good information on all the basics.

M-Learning

Used for Cisco mobile learning

IOScomm

Did you forget how to use a command?  Just look it up.

CMD Reference CCNA

Another great command line reference for Cisco.

Most of these apps will run on a android tablet with ICS or Jellybean.  Also some of these apps have a paid version which will add some more functionality.  I hope this list gives you some good ideas for apps to use on your phone or tablet.

Tom Pruett

CCSI #33112, CCNA, MCSE (NT, 2000, 2003), MCITP SQL 2005, MCDBA SQL 7 & 2000, MCP+1, MCT, CTT+, CISSP, CWNA, CEH, CHFI, A+, Network+, Security+

Big changes - Cisco updates ICND1v2 and ICND2v2 classes

It is said that with change, comes new opportunity.   Well in April of this year, Cisco announced an upgrade to the ICND1 and ICND2 courses.  This update was from version 1.1 to 2.  Cisco has always been very good at updating its’ courses due to changes in technologies and student abilities and expectations.

With the advent of Cisco revising ICND1 & 2, some major changes have taken place in the courses which will provide new and exciting opportunities for students.  In my opinion Cisco made these revisions because most current students entering Cisco training are more experienced with the network infrastructure. The new courses focus more on Cisco base routing and switching technologies and less on network infracture theory. 

In my opinion this is a great direction Cisco is heading in its training.  Since students have had exposure in their jobs to Cisco why not provide more hands on training.  It is not to say that the networking theory information is less important.  In fact it is vitally important in learning Cisco technologies.  Its just that today’s students have been exposed to this information in either other vendor training (ie. Comptia Network+, Microsoft) or have learned about it in everyday network experience.

So what are the new changes in the courses?

Here is a summary of the new version 2 of ICND1 offers:

1) Access Control Lists                       - previously in ICND2, for filtering ip protocol

2) No SDM gui                                   - replaced SDM with Cisco Configuration Professional

3) Vlans                                               - previously in ICND2, creating and managing

4) Vlan Trunking Protocol 802.1q        - need to know for managing VLAN traffic                       

5) Routing between VLAN’s                - no layer 3 switch routing, router on a stick

6)  NAT and the CLI                            - NAT is now configured with ACL’s in CLI

7)  DHCP configured in CLI                 - DHCP is no longer done with SDM

8)  Variable Length Subnet Masking      - previously in ICND2, conserve IP addresses

9)  OSPF single and multiple area          - previously in ICND2, replaces RIP

10) IPv6                                               - previously in ICND2

11) OSPFv3                                         - routing with IPv6

12) No wireless                                    - has been moved to CCNA Wireless

13) More troubleshooting labs               - better for understanding real world issues

Here is a summary of the new version 2 of ICND2 offers:

1) EtherChannel                                    -  creating redundancy in media

2) Hot Standing Router Protocol           - provides fault tolerant for default gateway

3) Load Balancing                                 - provides better throughput for traffic

4) ACL IPv6                                         - Access Control Lists using IPv6

5) EIGRP                                              - using EIGRP with IPv6

6) OSPF Multi Area                              - more from ICND1 on OSPF

9) GRE Tunnel                                       - an ip tunnel created between routers

10) Syslog, SNMP and Netflow             - management of routers and switches

So as you can see there is quite a bit of new information for both courses.  

One of the questions I have already been asked is “Where or how can I get some of that base network information needed for ICND1v2 if I am new to Cisco or do not have a lot of experience?”  My answer has been if possible to take Network+.  Yes, I know its a basic introduction to networking, however all of the concepts not covered in  ICNDv1 are covered in Network+.

Network+ provides a great opportunity for those who may be new to networking or do not have a great deal of experience with networking.  I realize it is an extra course for some, but I do think its invaluable.  I teach Network+ for Centriq and include a lot of information for those who are going into Cisco.  I am probably a bit biased in my Network+ training because I am a Cisco Certified Systems Instructor.  

I hope this update on ICND1v2 and ICND2v2 helps and I look forward to seeing you in class at Centriq.

Achieve Your Goals with StickK

Do you need help with a goal?  Would you like to be held accountable by a friend for that goal?  Do I have the website for you.

StickK.com  is a website that helps people achieve and maintain their goals.  StickK has been around for a couple of years however its not really that well know.  Its easy and free to sign up and use.  Here is how it works.  You sign up and then choose a goal you would like to achieve and your referee (the person holding you accountable) or add your friends to help support you.

One thing successful people do is make goals.  However when people make goals there is usually not a way to get support or have someone to help you be accountable.  You can also write journal entries about your goals each day to help you reach your goals.  IT folks might find this website particularly helpful in achieving those certification goals.

Tom