14 DAY TRIAL // When it comes to networking, I am still struggling in the area between beginner and intermediate, and each network tool that falls into my hands can't do anything else but help me in my quest for computer networks knowledge. Of course that if we leave aside small ping, traceroute or network monitoring tools, we will find enough all- in- one network tools remaining, and this is the area I want to touch next...
The program that I have here now is an all- in- one tool that can test and diagnose most common problems from any network. Its name is Capturix NetWorks, the current version is 4.06 and the installation kit weighs 4MB. This program comes shaped as a trial version with nag screens and some functional limitations. The setup process shouldn't be a problem for you, so I'm going to the interface and features part now, as usual.
Capturix NetWorks has an interface with a decent design, well organized and very easy to use. This program has four components that can be even considered individual applications, turning my target into an applications suite. The components that I was talking about are the Ping Check, Connection Watcher, Packet Sniffer and the Speed Meter, with most of them having corresponding tools inside the program's control center. Since there are a lot of tools available inside it, I'll let you know more about the tools available in the Capturix NetWorks' main window.
It's hard to choose a starting point when you have over twenty alternatives available, but System Information seems the logical way to begin using this program. Contrary to what I was expecting, this area doesn't offer information about all your hardware and software, but only details about your network interface card.
Moving on, the ping-traceroute-port scanner triad is here, and they are as easy to use as all the other tools from the main interface - all you have to do is enter the address to check, and then press the action button.
A useful tool is called Country TLD's and its purpose is to help you discover information about country top level domains. If I told you about it, then the Route Information, DNS Lookup and HTTP Server tools will fit in too. Don't ask, just use!
Inside Capturix NetWorks, webmasters can find a tool that helps them check their websites for vulnerabilities, its name being just "Exploits". All you have to do is type the Web server's address, press the Scan button and then see the results. I don't think it can get easier than that...
The IP Calculator will calculate the subnet mask that should be used to get the required number of networks or nodes, while the PingCheck tool can be considered a multi ping tool, enabling you to periodically verify the response time of a network device. If any error occurs, you can be noticed about it through email or even SMS! The bad part is that in the trial version you can only set one address to check...
The Connection Watcher and the Packet Sniffer are two external tools that can notify you of incoming connections (I found that sometimes, the Connection Watcher can become annoying, but you can close it whenever you want) and trace the packets that are transferred in your network.
Now, let's jump to the conclusions, and don't forget to start downloading this program, it's a really useful tool, I can tell you that!
The Good
Capturix NetWorks is a well done application, with lots of features, easy to use and having a good price.
The Bad
There are only two bad things that I noticed - the program's interface is a bit outdated, and there are too many nag screens.
The Truth
Capturix NetWorks is a program worth trying, but also one worth buying. This is my opinion, of course, and if you want to be sure, grab it and give it a spin!
Here are some snapshots of the application in action:
