Using Network Utility

You can view the following information for each network connection from the Info tab:

• hardware address of the interface
• the current IP addresses assigned to the interface
• hardware speed and status (active or inactive)
• the name of the interface manufacturer and model (such as for an add-on PCI card in a Mac Pro or a connected USB to Ethernet adapter)
• a count of data packets sent and received over the interface
• a count of transmission errors and collisions on a connection

Network Utility also provides graphic user interface (GUI) methods for common command-line diagnostic tools, including:

Netstat Ping Lookup Traceroute Whois Finger Port Scan

To learn more about each of these tools and their uses, open Network Utility and select Network Utility Help from the Help menu. 

You can use this information, together with network information provided by the Network pane of System preferences, to investigate your network connection.

Locating Network Utility

Use these steps to locate and open the Network Utility app on your computer.

Snow Leopard, Lion, and Mountain Lion

 In OS X Mountain Lion and earlier, Network Utility is located in the Utilities folder of the Applications folder.

• From the Finder, choose Go > Utilities to go directly to the Utilities folder.