Скачать или смотреть Lesson 2 Your Network Detective Tools

Understanding ipconfig and ifconfig — Your Network Detective Tools
Have you ever opened your laptop, tried to connect to the Internet, and nothing works? Maybe the Wi-Fi is on, but websites won’t load. You restart your device… still nothing.

Now what?

This is where networking tools like ipconfig and ifconfig come to the rescue. These simple command-line tools give you instant insight into how your computer is connected to a network — or why it's not.

🧠 What Are ipconfig and ifconfig?
These are commands you can type into a terminal or command prompt to see your network configuration — in other words, how your computer is connected to the network.

Command Operating System Description
ipconfig Windows Shows your IP address and network info
ifconfig Linux / Mac Similar to ipconfig, but used in Unix-based systems
🔍 What Can These Tools Tell Us?
When you run either command, you'll see several pieces of important information:

1. IP Address
Your computer’s address on the network — like your home address, but for data.
Example: 192.168.1.12

This is how your computer sends and receives information. No IP = no connection.

2. Subnet Mask
Helps define your local network and who your neighbors are (other devices on the same subnet).
Common value: 255.255.255.0

Think of it as a filter — it separates your computer from others on different networks.

3. Default Gateway
The IP address of the device that connects you to the outside world — usually your router.
Example: 192.168.1.1

If your device can’t reach this, it won’t get to the Internet.

4. Network Adapters
Lists all your network interfaces, like:

Ethernet (wired)

Wi-Fi

Bluetooth or virtual adapters

Each one can have its own settings and IP address.

🧪 Real-World Scenario
You can't get online at school. A tech comes to help and asks,

“What’s your IP address?”

You open Command Prompt and type:

ipconfig
You see:

IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 169.254.5.21
Oops! That’s a sign of trouble. IPs starting with 169.254 are called APIPA addresses — your computer made up an address because it couldn’t talk to the DHCP server. That means no Internet.

Now the tech knows what to fix — all thanks to ipconfig.

⚡ Quick Demo (Try It Yourself!)
On Windows:
Press Windows Key + R, type cmd, and press Enter.

In the black window, type: ipconfig

Press Enter.

On Mac or Linux:
Open the Terminal app.

Type: ifconfig

Press Enter.

📷 Bonus: Try to find your IP address, default gateway, and subnet mask. Ask yourself:

Is it a private IP (like 192.168.x.x or 10.x.x.x)?

Can you reach your gateway?

🧰 Why This Matters
Understanding ipconfig and ifconfig gives you:

The power to troubleshoot your own Internet issues

A key skill for future IT or cybersecurity jobs

A better understanding of how your device fits into a network

Think of these tools like your network X-ray machine — they show you what’s happening under the hood, even when nothing else is working.

✅ Summary
Term What It Tells You
IP Address Where your device is on the network
Subnet Mask Defines the local network boundaries
Default Gateway Your exit to the Internet
ipconfig / ifconfig Shows all of the above & more