Network diagnostics are essential for troubleshooting connectivity issues, ensuring optimal network performance, and identifying potential problems in your network setup. For macOS users, understanding how to run network diagnostics can help maintain a stable and efficient network environment. This article will guide you through the process of performing network diagnostics on macOS, including using built-in tools and commands in the Terminal.

Examples:

1. Using the Network Utility App:

   • macOS includes a built-in Network Utility app that provides various tools for network diagnostics.
   • To access Network Utility:
     1. Open Finder.
     2. Go to Applications > Utilities > Network Utility.
     3. Use the tabs to perform actions like Ping, Netstat, Traceroute, and more.

2. Using Terminal Commands:

   • Ping: Check the connectivity to a specific IP address or domain.

     ping google.com

   • Traceroute: Trace the route packets take to reach a destination.

     traceroute google.com

   • Netstat: Display network connections, routing tables, interface statistics, masquerade connections, and multicast memberships.

     netstat -an

   • Ifconfig: Configure and display network interface parameters.

     ifconfig

   • Nslookup: Query Internet name servers interactively.

     nslookup google.com

   • Dig: Perform DNS lookups and display the answers returned from the name server.

     dig google.com

3. Using the Wireless Diagnostics Tool:

   • macOS also includes a Wireless Diagnostics tool for troubleshooting Wi-Fi issues.
   • To access Wireless Diagnostics:
     1. Hold the Option key and click the Wi-Fi icon in the menu bar.
     2. Select "Open Wireless Diagnostics."
     3. Follow the on-screen instructions to diagnose and resolve Wi-Fi issues.