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I Comprehensive bundle catches up with Unix functions
NYONE WHo has ever done network troubleshooting oi security analysis using Windows will inevitably lament that Unix users get all the neal security discovery tools. Because of its Internet heritage, Unix has always had an overabundance of developers willing to code port scanners, DNS interrogation tools, and a myriad of other utilities of irreplaceable value to network administrators.
Windows, on the other hand, has traditionally lacked the diversity and flexibility of Unix toolsets. With NetScanTools Pro 2000, however, Windows users can have nearly all of this functionality If you can swallow paying $150 for services that are generally available for free, it's the next best thing to a fullblown security- vulnerability scan ner such as Internet Security Systems Scanner.
Although you'll find a few strong competitors to NetScanTools (including the wonderful and free Sam Spade, at www.samspade.org/ssw, and WS-Ping ProPack, at www.ip switch.com, for $37.50), NetScanTools' flexibility is hard to beat. Putting so many useful tools into a single interface should help your Windows network administrators respond more quickly to problems and spare your users from longer or more frequent delays.
I tested NetScanTools Pro while conducting a security assessment of several Class C IP networks. Although the tools are most appropriate for security work, the various utilities can also prove useful in day-to-day network administration. The Ping and Traceroute tools, for example, are exceptionally fast and strong replacements for the built-in Windows tools, and utilities such as Whois are great additions to the Windows toolset.