Documents available from Microsoft website on how to use the above tools:

PING

IPCONFIG

NSLOOKUP

• Verify the program works locally before proceeding with a network-related issue. You can use the Sample company to test.
• You will need to use an MS-DOS prompt when using any of the tools listed below.

Ping: Use to test if the workstation and the server can "see" each other thru the IP network. You can also use it to self-test the network interface card of the computer.

• Example:
  • input: ping localhost
  • output: Reply from 127.0.0.1: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128

Ipconfig: Use to find the IP information for the server and workstation. The test displays all current TCP/IP network configuration values and refreshes Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) and Domain Name System (DNS) settings.

• Example:
  • input: ipconfig
  • output: Connection-specific DNS Suffix: x.mycompany.com
    IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.10.10
    Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
    Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.10.1

Nslookup: Use to verify if the server and workstation use the same DNS server.

• Example:
  • input: nslookup simplyaccounting.com
  • output: Server: server-b.mycompany.com
    Address: x.x.x.x
    
    Non-authoritative answer:
    Name: simplyaccounting.com
    Address: 64.88.171.42

Telnet:  Use to verify access to the server's port for the Connection Manager and the data (if open on the server). If successful, your firewall is not blocking the connection.