Understanding NETSTAT Output: Admin Rights Required
NETSTAT is a powerful command-line tool that allows system administrators and users to monitor network connections and usage. With the help of this tool, you can view active network connections, listening ports, routing tables, and other network-related information. However, interpreting the output of NETSTAT can be challenging, especially for new users. In this article, we will provide a detailed explanation of the NETSTAT output, focusing on the key concepts and subtitles.
What is NETSTAT?
NETSTAT is a command-line utility that comes pre-installed with most operating systems, including Windows, Linux, and macOS. It is used to monitor network connections, view network statistics, and troubleshoot network-related issues. The tool can display information about active network connections, listening ports, routing tables, and other network-related information.
Admin Rights Required
To run NETSTAT with all its options, you need to have administrative privileges. This is because NETSTAT can display sensitive information about the system, including open ports and network connections. By running NETSTAT with administrative privileges, you can ensure that you have access to all the information you need to monitor and troubleshoot your network.
NETSTAT Output
The output of NETSTAT can be overwhelming, especially for new users. However, by breaking down the output into smaller sections, you can easily understand what each section means. Here are the key sections of the NETSTAT output:
- Proto: This column displays the protocol used for the network connection, such as TCP or UDP.
- Local Address: This column displays the local IP address and port number used for the network connection.
- Foreign Address: This column displays the remote IP address and port number used for the network connection.
- State: This column displays the current state of the network connection, such as ESTABLISHED, LISTENING, or TIME_WAIT.
Interpreting the Output
Interpreting the output of NETSTAT requires some knowledge of network connections and protocols. Here are some key things to look for when analyzing the output:
- Active Connections: Look for connections with the state ESTABLISHED. These are active connections that are currently in use.
- Listening Ports: Look for connections with the state LISTENING. These are ports that are open and waiting for incoming connections.
- Closed Connections: Look for connections with the state CLOSED. These are connections that have been closed or terminated.
- Time Wait State: Look for connections with the state TIME_WAIT. These are connections that have been closed but are still in a waiting state to ensure that all packets have been transmitted.
Code Blocks
Here is an example of the NETSTAT output:
C:\>netstat -ano
Proto Local Address Foreign Address State PID
TCP 0.0.0.0:80 0.0.0.0:0 LISTENING 4
TCP 0.0.0.0:135 0.0.0.0:0 LISTENING 1052
TCP 0.0.0.0:445 0.0.0.0:0 LISTENING 4
TCP 0.0.0.0:3389 0.0.0.0:0 LISTENING 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:139 0.0.0.0:0 LISTENING 4
TCP 10.0.0.2:445 10.0.0.1:55207 ESTABLISHED 4
TCP 10.0.0.2:49152 10.0.0.1:55206 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49153 10.0.0.1:55208 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49154 10.0.0.1:55209 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49155 10.0.0.1:55210 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49156 10.0.0.1:55211 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49157 10.0.0.1:55212 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49158 10.0.0.1:55213 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49159 10.0.0.1:55214 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49160 10.0.0.1:55215 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49161 10.0.0.1:55216 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49162 10.0.0.1:55217 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49163 10.0.0.1:55218 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49164 10.0.0.1:55219 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49165 10.0.0.1:55220 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49166 10.0.0.1:55221 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49167 10.0.0.1:55222 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49168 10.0.0.1:55223 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49169 10.0.0.1:55224 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49170 10.0.0.1:55225 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49171 10.0.0.1:55226 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49172 10.0.0.1:55227 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49173 10.0.0.1:55228 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49174 10.0.0.1:55229 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49175 10.0.0.1:55230 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49176 10.0.0.1:55231 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49177 10.0.0.1:55232 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49178 10.0.0.1:55233 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49179 10.0.0.1:55234 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49180 10.0.0.1:55235 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49181 10.0.0.1:55236 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49182 10.0.0.1:55237 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49183 10.0.0.1:55238 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49184 10.0.0.1:55239 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49185 10.0.0.1:55240 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49186 10.0.0.1:55241 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49187 10.0.0.1:55242 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49188 10.0.0.1:55243 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49189 10.0.0.1:55244 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49190 10.0.0.1:55245 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49191 10.0.0.1:55246 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49192 10.0.0.1:55247 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49193 10.0.0.1:55248 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49194 10.0.0.1:55249 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49195 10.0.0.1:55250 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49196 10.0.0.1:55251 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49197 10.0.0.1:55252 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49198 10.0.0.1:55253 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49199 10.0.0.1:55254 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49200 10.0.0.1:55255 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49201 10.0.0.1:55256 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49202 10.0.0.1:55257 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49203 10.0.0.1:55258 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49204 10.0.0.1:55259 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49205 10.0.0.1:55260 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49206 10.0.0.1:55261 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49207 10.0.0.1:55262 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49208 10.0.0.1:55263 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49209 10.0.0.1:55264 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49210 10.0.0.1:55265 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49211 10.0.0.1:55266 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49212 10.0.0.1:55267 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49213 10.0.0.1:55268 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49214 10.0.0.1:55269 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49215 10.0.0.1:55270 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49216 10.0.0.1:55271 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49217 10.0.0.1:55272 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49218 10.0.0.1:55273 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49219 10.0.0.1:55274 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49220 10.0.0.1:55275 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49221 10.0.0.1:55276 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49222 10.0.0.1:55277 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49223 10.0.0.1:55278 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49224 10.0.0.1:55279 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49225 10.0.0.1:55280 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49226 10.0.0.1:55281 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49227 10.0.0.1:55282 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49228 10.0.0.1:55283 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49229 10.0.0.1:55284 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49230 10.0.0.1:55285 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49231 10.0.0.1:55286 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49232 10.0.0.1:55287 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49233 10.0.0.1:55288 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49234 10.0.0.1:55289 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49235 10.0.0.1:55290 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49236 10.0.0.1:55291 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49237 10.0.0.1:55292 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49238 10.0.0.1:55293 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49239 10.0.0.1:55294 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49240 10.0.0.1:55295 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49241 10.0.0.1:55296 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49242 10.0.0.1:55297 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49243 10.0.0.1:55298 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49244 10.0.0.1:55299 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49245 10.0.0.1:55300 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49246 10.0.0.1:55301 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49247 10.0.0.1:55302 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49248 10.0.0.1:55303 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49249 10.0.0.1:55304 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49250 10.0.0.1:55305 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49251 10.0.0.1:55306 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49252 10.0.0.1:55307 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49253 10.0.0.1:55308 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49254 10.0.0.1:55309 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49255 10.0.0.1:55310 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49256 10.0.0.1:55311 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49257 10.0.0.1:55312 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49258 10.0.0.1:55313 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49259 10.0.0.1:55314 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49260 10.0.0.1:55315 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49261 10.0.0.1:55316 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49262 10.0.0.1:55317 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49263 10.0.0.1:55318 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49264 10.0.0.1:55319 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49265 10.0.0.1:55320 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49266 10.0.0.1:55321 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49267 10.0.0.1:55322 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49268 10.0.0.1:55323 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49269 10.0.0.1:55324 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49270 10.0.0.1:55325 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49271 10.0.0.1:55326 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49272 10.0.0.1:55327 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49273 10.0.0.1:55328 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49274 10.0.0.1:55329 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49275 10.0.0.1:55330 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49276 10.0.0.1:55331 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49277 10.0.0.1:55332 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49278 10.0.0.1:55333 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49279 10.0.0.1:55334 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49280 10.0.0.1:55335 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49281 10.0.0.1:55336 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49282 10.0.0.1:55337 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49283 10.0.0.1:55338 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49284 10.0.0.1:55339 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49285 10.0.0.1:55340 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49286 10.0.0.1:55341 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49287 10.0.0.1:55342 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49288 10.0.0.1:55343 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49289 10.0.0.1:55344 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49290 10.0.0.1:55345 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49291 10.0.0.1:55346 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49292 10.0.0.1:55347 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49293 10.0.0.1:55348 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49294 10.0.0.1:55349 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49295 10.0.0.1:55350 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49296 10.0.0.1:55351 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49297 10.0.0.1:55352 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49298 10.0.0.1:55353 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49299 10.0.0.1:55354 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49300 10.0.0.1:55355 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49301 10.0.0.1:55356 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49302 10.0.0.1:55357 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49303 10.0.0.1:55358 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49304 10.0.0.1:55359 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49305 10.0.0.1:55360 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49306 10.0.0.1:55361 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49307 10.0.0.1:55362 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49308 10.0.0.1:55363 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49309 10.0.0.1:55364 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49310 10.0.0.1:55365 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49311 10.0.0.1:55366 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49312 10.0.0.1:55367 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49313 10.0.0.1:55368 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49314 10.0.0.1:55369 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49315 10.0.0.1:55370 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49316 10.0.0.1:55371 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49317 10.0.0.1:55372 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49318 10.0.0.1:55373 ESTABLISHED 1200
TCP 10.0.0.2:49319 10.0.0.1:55374