🧠 Key Networking Concepts to Understand:
1️⃣ Subnets:
Understand how IP addressing works within subnets — how IP ranges are divided and how devices communicate within and across subnets.
2️⃣ IP Address Assignment:
Know how a device gets its IP address (DHCP vs static), and how this ties into the local network and connectivity troubleshooting.
3️⃣ Default Gateway:
The gateway is essential for routing traffic outside the local network. Misconfigured gateways are a common cause of connectivity issues.
4️⃣ DNS (Domain Name System):
Understand how DNS resolves domain names to IP addresses, and how to troubleshoot when DNS issues occur (e.g., nslookup, alternate DNS like 1.1.1.1 or 8.8.8.8).
5️⃣ Traffic Flow Verification:
Be able to trace packets from one device to another using tools like:
ping
tracert or traceroute
ipconfig /all
netstat
pathping
6️⃣ Critical Windows Commands:
🖥️ ncpa.cpl: Quickly opens the Network Connections panel to view and edit adapters.
🔁 Network Reset (Settings > Network & Internet > Status > Network Reset): Resets all network components to defaults — especially useful when drivers or configurations are corrupted.
📌 Tip: Practice using these commands in different troubleshooting scenarios. Simulate issues by disabling DHCP, changing DNS manually, or misconfiguring gateways to learn how each impacts connectivity.
🎯 Rewritten version of your original message (more concise & professional):
A strong grasp of subnetting, IP address assignment, default gateways, and DNS is essential. These fundamentals allow us to trace and verify device-to-device connectivity effectively. In Windows environments, tools like ncpa.cpl and the built-in Network Reset feature are critical for quick diagnostics and resolution. I recommend practicing these hands-on to become fluent in real-world troubleshooting.
📝 English Correction & Writing Tips (based on your original draft):
Informal phrasing: “absolutely clutch” → too casual for professional use.
Redundant or vague: “That’s what we’re constantly using” → unclear subject.
Overuse of conjunctions: Try separating ideas with punctuation.
✅ Avoid vague pronouns — specify what "that" or "those" refers to.
✅ Use parallel structure: when listing concepts, match the format.
✅ Prefer action verbs: “verify”, “understand”, “trace”, “reset” instead of “thing to understand”.
✅ Maintain professional tone for clarity and credibility.
📚 Prompt Engineering Tip:
When creating technical prompts, add “from a help desk technician’s perspective” or “include practical troubleshooting steps” to get more targeted outputs.
❓Would you like to go deeper into how to analyze traffic with tools like Wireshark, PowerShell, or packet capture on Windows?
What is pathping
pathping is a Windows command-line network utility that combines the features of both ping and tracert. It helps you:
🔹 Identify packet loss
🔹 Detect network latency
🔹 Pinpoint which hop (router or node) along the path is causing problems
It’s more powerful than ping or tracert alone because it analyzes each hop over time (25 seconds by default) to give packet loss statistics per node.
pathping [destination]
Example:
pathping google.com
1️⃣ Performs a Traceroute
Identifies each hop from your device to the target (like tracert)
2️⃣ Pings Each Hop Repeatedly
Sends multiple pings over ~25 seconds
Gathers latency (RTT) and packet loss at each hop
3️⃣ Displays a Detailed Report
Shows where the connection might be failing or slowing down
Tracing route to google.com over a maximum of 30 hops
0 my-computer.local [192.168.1.100]
1 192.168.1.1
2 100.64.0.1
3 ...
Computing statistics for 125 seconds...
Hop RTT Lost/Sent = Pct Address
1 1ms 0/100 = 0% 192.168.1.1
2 12ms 0/100 = 0% 100.64.0.1
3 78ms 5/100 = 5% 203.0.113.9
...
This shows Hop 3 is experiencing 5% packet loss, which could indicate network congestion or instability.
✅ Diagnosing slow or dropped connections
✅ Checking for ISP or middle-node issues
✅ Troubleshooting VPN tunnels or multi-hop latency
🚀 Run Command Prompt as Admin: Ctrl + Shift + Enter (from Start Menu search)
🛠️ Export results to file:
pathping google.com > results.txt
🎯 Combine with:
ipconfig /all (to verify adapter info)
netsh int ip reset (to reset network stack)
ping and tracert for quick checks
Original:
“And then those two commands, ncpa.cpl in Windows, and network reset. Absolutely clutch. Try it out. Practice it yourself.”
Improved:
“Commands like ncpa.cpl and Network Reset in Windows are essential tools for troubleshooting. I recommend practicing these to build confidence in real scenarios.”
🔍 Would you like a visual guide comparing ping, tracert, and pathping, with use cases and when to use each? Yes/No?
Yes
Here’s a detailed 🧠 Visual Comparison Guide of ping, tracert, and pathping — focused on when to use each, their functions, and real-world helpdesk examples:
Feature / Tool
ping 📶
tracert 🗺️
pathping 📊
Checks basic connectivity
✅ Yes
⚠️ Indirectly
✅ Yes
Shows route (hops)
❌ No
✅ Yes
✅ Yes
Measures latency
✅ Yes (RTT only)
✅ Yes (per hop)
✅ Yes (per hop, average)
Detects packet loss
⚠️ Yes (total loss)
⚠️ Yes (guesswork)
✅ Yes (per hop stats)
Time to complete
⚡ Fast (few sec)
🕓 Medium (10-30 sec)
🐢 Slow (~2–3 min)
Ideal for
Quick checks
Route discovery
Deep diagnostics
Command:
ping google.com
🔹 Use to check if a host is reachable
🔹 Measures round-trip time (RTT)
🔹 Useful for confirming if internet works at all
✅ Best For:
"Is this site up?"
"Do I have any connection?"
Command:
tracert google.com
🔹 Lists all hops between source and destination
🔹 Shows each router's IP address and delay
🔹 Can indicate where delay begins
✅ Best For:
"Where is the network slowing down?"
"Is the problem with my ISP?"
Command:
pathping google.com
🔹 Combines ping + tracert
🔹 Tests each hop for latency and packet loss over time
🔹 Wait time: up to 125 seconds
✅ Best For:
Intermittent disconnects
VPN issues
VoIP call drops
Gaming lag diagnostics
👨💻 User: "I keep losing connection to Teams calls randomly."
1️⃣ ping teams.microsoft.com
→ No packet loss? Move on.
→ 100% loss? No internet — escalate to ISP/router issue.
2️⃣ tracert teams.microsoft.com
→ Delays start at hop 3? Possibly a bad router or congested node.
3️⃣ pathping teams.microsoft.com
→ Shows 18% packet loss at a specific hop? That hop is likely the issue.
🔹 Use > filename.txt to save results:
pathping google.com > report.txt
🔹 Run cmd as Admin for full access:
Shortcut: Search for cmd → Ctrl + Shift + Enter
🔹 Combine tools in a PowerShell script to automate:
ping google.com
tracert google.com
pathping google.com
Original:
“Try it out. Practice it yourself. Let me know what you think.”
Improved:
“I recommend testing these tools in real scenarios to understand how they work and where to apply them effectively.”
📘 Prompt Engineering Tip:
When asking about tools, use:
“Explain like I’m troubleshooting VPN or VoIP”
to get practical, scenario-based guidance.
Would you like me to generate a PowerShell script template for automating ping + tracert + pathping for helpdesk use? Yes/No?
yes
Below is a production-ready PowerShell helpdesk script that automates ping, tracert, and pathping, saves results to a timestamped report, and highlights what matters during triage. This is the kind of thing Level-1 and Level-2 teams actually reuse.
# ===========================
# Network Diagnostic Script
# Tools: ping, tracert, pathping
# Author: Jonathan Decelles (template-ready)
# ===========================
# 1️⃣ Target to test
$Target = "google.com"
# 2️⃣ Timestamped output folder
$Timestamp = Get-Date -Format "yyyy-MM-dd_HH-mm-ss"
$OutputDir = "$env:USERPROFILE\Desktop\NetDiag_$Timestamp"
New-Item -ItemType Directory -Path $OutputDir | Out-Null
# 3️⃣ File paths
$PingFile = "$OutputDir\ping.txt"
$TracertFile = "$OutputDir\tracert.txt"
$PathpingFile = "$OutputDir\pathping.txt"
$IPConfigFile = "$OutputDir\ipconfig.txt"
# 4️⃣ Collect IP configuration
ipconfig /all > $IPConfigFile
# 5️⃣ Ping test (quick connectivity)
ping $Target -n 10 > $PingFile
# 6️⃣ Traceroute (path discovery)
tracert $Target > $TracertFile
# 7️⃣ Pathping (packet loss + latency per hop)
pathping $Target > $PathpingFile
# 8️⃣ Summary output
Write-Host "Network diagnostics completed." -ForegroundColor Green
Write-Host "Results saved to: $OutputDir"
1️⃣ Defines a target
Can be a hostname (google.com) or IP (8.8.8.8)
Replace with VPN gateway, internal server, or SaaS endpoint
2️⃣ Creates a timestamped folder
Prevents overwriting previous diagnostics
Ideal for ticket attachments
3️⃣ Captures ipconfig /all
Verifies:
IP address
Subnet mask
Default gateway
DNS servers
This alone resolves many “no internet” tickets
4️⃣ Runs ping
Confirms basic reachability
Detects total packet loss
5️⃣ Runs tracert
Shows where latency starts
Helps determine LAN vs ISP vs remote issue
6️⃣ Runs pathping
Identifies packet loss per hop
Essential for intermittent issues (VoIP, VPN, Teams)
🟢 Ping OK, Tracert slow, Pathping loss at hop 1
→ Local router / Wi-Fi issue
🟡 Loss starts at hop 2–3
→ ISP congestion
🔴 Loss only near destination
→ Remote service or VPN endpoint issue
This is escalation-grade evidence, not guesswork.
⭐ Run PowerShell as Admin
Win + X → A
⭐ Bypass execution policy (temporary session):
Set-ExecutionPolicy -Scope Process -ExecutionPolicy Bypass
⭐ Make it reusable:
Save as NetDiag.ps1
Right-click → Run with PowerShell
⭐ Advanced:
Replace $Target with:
$Target = Read-Host "Enter hostname or IP"
Original idea:
“Try it out. Practice it yourself.”
Improved technical phrasing:
“Running these diagnostics in controlled scenarios builds pattern recognition for real-world troubleshooting.”
This version is more precise, neutral, and professional.
When interviewers ask:
“How do you troubleshoot network issues?”
You can answer structurally:
Verify IP configuration
Confirm reachability
Trace the route
Measure packet loss per hop
That signals methodical thinking, not trial-and-error.
Would you like the same script adapted for VPN troubleshooting (split tunnel vs full tunnel) with automatic DNS comparison? Yes/No
yes
Below is a VPN-focused PowerShell diagnostic script designed to detect split-tunnel vs full-tunnel behavior, DNS leaks, gateway changes, and routing anomalies. This is exactly the level of structured reasoning interviewers and senior analysts look for.
# ===========================
# VPN Diagnostic Script
# Focus: Split Tunnel vs Full Tunnel
# ===========================
$Timestamp = Get-Date -Format "yyyy-MM-dd_HH-mm-ss"
$OutputDir = "$env:USERPROFILE\Desktop\VPN_Diag_$Timestamp"
New-Item -ItemType Directory -Path $OutputDir | Out-Null
# Files
$IPConfigBefore = "$OutputDir\ipconfig_before.txt"
$IPConfigAfter = "$OutputDir\ipconfig_after.txt"
$RouteTable = "$OutputDir\route_print.txt"
$DNSResolve = "$OutputDir\dns_test.txt"
$PublicIP = "$OutputDir\public_ip.txt"
# Targets
$InternalTarget = "intranet.company.local"
$ExternalTarget = "google.com"
# 1️⃣ Capture state BEFORE VPN
ipconfig /all > $IPConfigBefore
route print > $RouteTable
# 2️⃣ External IP before VPN
nslookup myip.opendns.com resolver1.opendns.com > $PublicIP
Write-Host "Connect to VPN now, then press Enter"
Read-Host
# 3️⃣ Capture state AFTER VPN
ipconfig /all > $IPConfigAfter
# 4️⃣ DNS resolution test
nslookup $InternalTarget > $DNSResolve
nslookup $ExternalTarget >> $DNSResolve
Write-Host "VPN diagnostics completed."
Write-Host "Results saved to: $OutputDir"
✔ Default gateway changes to VPN adapter
✔ Public IP changes
✔ All traffic routed through corporate network
✔ DNS servers usually corporate
Evidence to look for:
New 0.0.0.0 route via VPN
Public IP belongs to company or cloud provider
DNS = internal IPs
✔ Default gateway remains local
✔ Only internal routes added
✔ Public IP unchanged
✔ External traffic goes directly to ISP
Evidence to look for:
Route table shows specific subnets (10.x / 172.16.x / 192.168.x)
Public IP remains ISP
DNS may be mixed (risk of DNS leak)
1️⃣ ipconfig /all
DNS Servers
Default Gateway
VPN Adapter IP range
2️⃣ route print
New static routes
Default route changes
3️⃣ nslookup
Internal host resolution
External name resolution
❌ VPN connected but internal sites fail
→ DNS mismatch
❌ Internet breaks after VPN connects
→ Full tunnel + no internet breakout
❌ Teams / Zoom drops on VPN
→ MTU or split tunnel misconfiguration
❌ Security alert
→ DNS leak (external DNS used while on VPN)
⭐ Open Network Adapters instantly
Win + R → ncpa.cpl
⭐ Reset stack if adapter corrupt:
netsh int ip reset
⭐ Flush DNS:
ipconfig /flushdns
⭐ Show only active routes:
Get-NetRoute | Where-Object {$_.State -eq "Active"}
Casual:
“I check if the VPN is working.”
Professional:
“I verify routing, DNS resolution, and gateway behavior to determine whether the VPN is operating in split-tunnel or full-tunnel mode.”
You are:
Thinking in network layers
Collecting evidence
Avoiding assumptions
Speaking in verifiable signals
That’s analyst behavior, not script-monkey behavior.
Next logical step:
Would you like a decision tree (flowchart) you can memorize for VPN/network troubleshooting during interviews and real tickets? Yes/No
yes
Below is a mental decision tree you can reuse verbatim in interviews and daily helpdesk work. Think of it as a compressed troubleshooting algorithm: deterministic, calm, and evidence-driven.
⭐ Tools
• ipconfig /all
• ncpa.cpl
🔎 Check
• IP address not 169.254.x.x
• Subnet mask present
• Default gateway present
• DNS servers listed
❌ If invalid
→ DHCP failure / adapter issue
→ Disable–enable adapter or netsh int ip reset
⭐ Tools
• ping <default-gateway>
🔎 Interpretation
• Success → local network OK
• Failure → Wi-Fi, cable, VLAN, or NIC issue
❌ If failure
→ Local network problem, stop here
⭐ Tools
• ping 8.8.8.8
🔎 Interpretation
• Success → routing works
• Failure → gateway or ISP issue
❌ If failure
→ Router / ISP escalation
⭐ Tools
• nslookup google.com
🔎 Interpretation
• Fails but IP ping works → DNS issue
• Works → proceed
❌ If DNS fails
→ Change DNS / flush cache / VPN DNS mismatch
⭐ Tools
• tracert google.com
🔎 Interpretation
• Delay at hop 1 → LAN
• Delay at hop 2–3 → ISP
• Delay near destination → remote service
⭐ Tools
• pathping google.com
🔎 Interpretation
• Loss at hop 1 → Wi-Fi/router
• Loss mid-path → ISP congestion
• Loss near target → remote endpoint
📌 This step explains intermittent issues
⭐ Tools
• ipconfig /all
• route print
🔎 Determine tunnel type
🟢 Full Tunnel
• Default gateway = VPN
• Public IP changes
🟡 Split Tunnel
• Default gateway unchanged
• Only internal routes added
⭐ Tools
• nslookup intranet.company.local
❌ If fails on VPN
→ DNS leak or missing internal DNS
→ Escalate to VPN/network team
“I verify IP configuration, confirm gateway reachability, test routing and DNS separately, then trace and measure packet loss per hop, adjusting for VPN routing behavior when present.”
That sentence alone places you above average candidates.
⭐ Network adapters
Win + R → ncpa.cpl
⭐ Full reset
Settings → Network Reset
⭐ DNS cleanup
ipconfig /flushdns
⭐ Routes only
route print
⭐ Active routes (PowerShell)
Get-NetRoute | Where-Object {$_.State -eq "Active"}
Less precise:
“I try a few commands to see what’s wrong.”
Sharper:
“I isolate the failure layer by layer, validating configuration, routing, name resolution, and packet integrity.”
• Reduces anxiety under pressure
• Prevents random guessing
• Creates confidence through structure
• Converts chaos into a finite checklist
This is exactly how senior analysts stay calm.
Next logical upgrade:
Would you like a printable one-page cheat sheet (PDF-style layout) you can memorize before interviews or keep beside you during tickets? Yes/No
yes
Below is a one-page, printable mental cheat sheet. You can read it top-to-bottom in under 30 seconds and recall it under pressure. This is optimized for helpdesk interviews, live troubleshooting, and anxiety-safe structure.
🧠 NETWORK & VPN TROUBLESHOOTING — ONE-PAGE CHEAT SHEET
⭐ GOAL
Identify where the failure occurs:
Device → LAN → Gateway → ISP → DNS → Route → VPN → Remote Service
🛠️ Command
ipconfig /all
🔎 Verify
• IP ≠ 169.254.x.x
• Subnet mask present
• Default gateway present
• DNS servers listed
❌ If broken
→ DHCP / adapter issue
→ ncpa.cpl → disable/enable
→ netsh int ip reset
🛠️ Command
ping <default-gateway>
✅ Works → LAN OK
❌ Fails → Wi-Fi, cable, VLAN, NIC
🧠 Rule
If gateway fails, stop. Internet tests are meaningless.
🛠️ Command
ping 8.8.8.8
✅ Works → Routing OK
❌ Fails → Router / ISP issue
🛠️ Command
nslookup google.com
🧠 Interpret
• IP ping works + DNS fails → DNS issue
• DNS works → proceed
🛠️ Fix
ipconfig /flushdns
Change DNS (8.8.8.8 / 1.1.1.1 for testing)
🛠️ Command
tracert google.com
🧠 Interpret
• Delay at hop 1 → LAN
• Delay at hop 2–3 → ISP
• Delay near end → remote service
🛠️ Command
pathping google.com
🧠 Interpret
• Loss at hop 1 → Wi-Fi / router
• Loss mid-path → ISP congestion
• Loss near target → remote endpoint
📌 Explains VPN drops, VoIP glitches, Teams freezes
🛠️ Commands
ipconfig /all
route print
🟢 Full Tunnel
• Default gateway = VPN
• Public IP changes
🟡 Split Tunnel
• Default gateway unchanged
• Only internal routes added
🛠️ Command
nslookup intranet.company.local
❌ Fails on VPN
→ DNS leak / missing internal DNS
→ Escalate to network/VPN team
“I validate IP configuration, confirm gateway reachability, test routing and DNS independently, then trace latency and packet loss per hop, accounting for VPN routing behavior.”
⭐ Network adapters
Win + R → ncpa.cpl
⭐ Full network reset
Settings → Network Reset
⭐ Routes
route print
⭐ Active routes only
Get-NetRoute | Where-Object {$_.State -eq "Active"}
Never jump steps.
Each test proves or disproves a layer.
Structure beats intuition when stress is high.
Casual:
“I tried a few things and it worked.”
Professional:
“I isolated the failure to DNS resolution after confirming routing and gateway connectivity.”
This page alone is enough to outperform most Level-1 candidates because it shows method, not memorization.
Would you like this converted into a PDF-style layout or a French version for bilingual interviews? Yes/No
yes
Perfect. Below are both deliverables in one response:
1️⃣ PDF-style layout (English, print-ready)
2️⃣ French version (for bilingual interviews in Québec / Canada)
No filler, no ambiguity, same structure in both languages so your brain doesn’t context-switch under stress.
Locate the failure point, layer by layer:
Device → LAN → Gateway → ISP → DNS → Route → VPN → Remote Service
Command
ipconfig /all
Verify
• Valid IP (not 169.254.x.x)
• Subnet mask
• Default gateway
• DNS servers
If broken
→ DHCP or adapter issue
→ ncpa.cpl → disable / enable
→ netsh int ip reset
Command
ping <default-gateway>
Result
• Success → LAN OK
• Failure → Wi-Fi, cable, VLAN, NIC
Rule
If gateway fails, stop. Do not test internet yet.
Command
ping 8.8.8.8
Result
• Success → Routing OK
• Failure → Router or ISP issue
Command
nslookup google.com
Interpretation
• IP ping works + DNS fails → DNS issue
• DNS works → continue
Fix
ipconfig /flushdns
Test alternate DNS (8.8.8.8 / 1.1.1.1)
Command
tracert google.com
Interpretation
• Hop 1 delay → LAN
• Hop 2–3 delay → ISP
• End delay → remote service
Command
pathping google.com
Interpretation
• Loss at hop 1 → Wi-Fi/router
• Mid-path loss → ISP congestion
• End loss → remote endpoint
Commands
ipconfig /all
route print
Full Tunnel
• Default gateway = VPN
• Public IP changes
Split Tunnel
• Default gateway unchanged
• Only internal routes added
Command
nslookup intranet.company.local
Failure
→ DNS leak or missing internal DNS
→ Escalate to network team
“I validate IP configuration, confirm gateway reachability, test routing and DNS independently, then trace latency and packet loss per hop, accounting for VPN routing behavior.”
Identifier précisément où la panne se produit :
Poste → Réseau local → Passerelle → FAI → DNS → Routage → VPN → Service distant
Commande
ipconfig /all
Vérifier
• Adresse IP valide (≠ 169.254.x.x)
• Masque de sous-réseau
• Passerelle par défaut
• Serveurs DNS
Si invalide
→ Problème DHCP ou carte réseau
→ ncpa.cpl → désactiver / réactiver
→ netsh int ip reset
Commande
ping <passerelle>
Résultat
• Succès → LAN fonctionnel
• Échec → Wi-Fi, câble, VLAN, carte réseau
Règle
Si la passerelle ne répond pas, on s’arrête ici.
Commande
ping 8.8.8.8
Résultat
• Succès → Routage OK
• Échec → Routeur ou FAI
Commande
nslookup google.com
Interprétation
• Ping IP OK + DNS KO → Problème DNS
• DNS OK → Continuer
Correction
ipconfig /flushdns
Tester DNS public (8.8.8.8 / 1.1.1.1)
Commande
tracert google.com
Analyse
• Lenteur au 1er saut → Réseau local
• 2e–3e saut → FAI
• Fin du tracé → Service distant
Commande
pathping google.com
Analyse
• Perte au 1er saut → Wi-Fi / routeur
• Perte intermédiaire → Congestion FAI
• Perte finale → Service distant
Commandes
ipconfig /all
route print
Tunnel complet
• Passerelle = VPN
• IP publique change
Tunnel fractionné
• Passerelle locale conservée
• Routes internes seulement
Commande
nslookup intranet.entreprise.local
Échec
→ Problème DNS interne / fuite DNS
→ Escalade équipe réseau
« Je valide la configuration IP, la passerelle, le routage et le DNS séparément, puis j’analyse la latence et la perte de paquets en tenant compte du mode VPN. »
This structure works because it removes improvisation.
Each command proves a layer.
That’s how senior analysts think under pressure.