Network Engineering Basics Part 10:
As you reach the final article in this beginner series, it’s time to focus on the tools network engineers use every day. While theory is important, hands-on tools are what turn knowledge into real troubleshooting skills.
Fortunately, many essential networking tools are free, built-in, and easy to start using. In this guide, you’ll learn the most common entry-level network engineering tools, followed by a brief look at more advanced options you’ll encounter as you grow.
Why Network Engineering Tools Matter
First and foremost, tools help you see what the network is actually doing. Instead of guessing, you can measure latency, trace routes, test connectivity, and securely manage devices.
Additionally, learning these tools early builds confidence. Even junior engineers are expected to recognize basic command-line utilities and understand what their output means.
Terminal Emulators: Your Command Center
Before anything else, you need a terminal emulator. This is the application that lets you run network commands and connect to devices.
Common examples include:
Through a terminal, you can run diagnostics, open SSH sessions, and manage routers, switches, servers, and firewalls.
In other words, if networking had a cockpit, the terminal would be it.
Ping: Is the Device Reachable?
One of the first tools every engineer learns is ping.
Ping checks whether a device responds over the network and measures how long it takes to reply.
You’ll typically use ping to:
- Confirm a device is online
- Test basic connectivity
- Check latency and packet loss
Because it’s fast and simple, ping is often the first step in troubleshooting.
Traceroute: Where Is the Delay?
When ping succeeds but performance is poor, traceroute becomes useful.
Traceroute shows each hop a packet takes to reach its destination. As a result, you can see:
- Where traffic slows down
- Which router may be causing issues
- Whether traffic leaves your local network as expected
Therefore, traceroute helps pinpoint where a problem exists, not just that a problem exists.
SSH: Secure Remote Access
Next, you’ll rely heavily on SSH (Secure Shell).
SSH allows you to securely connect to:
- Network devices
- Linux servers
- Firewalls and routers
Unlike older methods, SSH encrypts traffic, making it safe for production environments. Because of this, SSH is considered a core skill for any network engineer.
Once connected, you can configure devices, view logs, and run commands remotely.
Advanced Tools You’ll Encounter Later
As your skills grow, you’ll begin using more powerful tools. While these aren’t required on day one, it’s helpful to know what they do.
Wireshark
Wireshark captures and analyzes network packets in real time. It’s used to:
- Troubleshoot complex issues
- Inspect protocols
- Analyze traffic behavior
Although powerful, it requires practice to interpret correctly.
Nmap
Nmap is a network scanning tool used to:
- Discover devices
- Identify open ports
- Perform basic security assessments
Because of its capabilities, Nmap is widely used in both networking and cybersecurity roles.
Building Your Toolset Over Time
Importantly, you don’t need to master everything at once. Start with:
- Terminal usage
- Ping and traceroute
- SSH connections
Then, gradually expand into packet analysis and network scanning as your confidence grows.
In short, strong fundamentals paired with the right tools make troubleshooting faster and more effective.
Wrapping Up the Beginner’s Guide Series
You’ve now reached the end of this beginner series on network engineering fundamentals. From understanding networks and IP addressing to security concepts and practical tools, you’ve built a solid foundation.
👉 Next: Series Conclusion & Key Concepts Review
In the final wrap-up post, we’ll review the most important ideas from the entire series and highlight what to learn next as you continue your network engineering journey.