Dennis
01-07-2008, 01:38 PM
These FAQs will help you understand more about NetRanger. They discuss how NetRanger works, what it requires to operate and how it compares to other applications you may be currently using or considering to purchase.
System Requirements
What operating systems does NetRanger run on?
NetRanger works on Windows XP Professional, Windows XP Home, Windows 2000, Windows NT4 (SP6), Windows Me and Windows 98SE.
What else do I need on my computer to run NetRanger?
You will need to have Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 or higher installed on your computer. You can download the latest version of Internet Explorer from http://www.microsoft.com.
You must have at least 20MB hard disk space to install NetRanger.
It is recommended that you have set your screen graphics resolution to 16 bit, 24 bit or 32 bit color.
NetRanger will work with all internet connections such as ADSL, cable, ISDN, dialup modem, and microwave.
How NetRanger Can Help You
What will NetRanger tell me about my computer's settings and about the internet?
NetRanger contains a powerful collection of integrated tools that can tell you all about your computer's network settings, your internet connection, and about internet hosts and IP addresses.
If you are a system administrator, web administrator or just need to know more about your computer and internet connection, then NetRanger is for you!
It contains a comprehensive toolset that lets you drill into your computer's settings and find out about internet hosts and IP addresses. Standard tools like ping, trace route, whois, finger and host lookup are all included. In addition, advanced tools like host and port scanning, POP3 email checking and dialup connection management, take NetRanger further than other tools.
I have a web mail account. What is POP3 email checking?
NetRanger contains a complete POP3 email checker. It will check all your POP3 or web email accounts for any new email messages and notify you when the mail has arrived. It will also show you a preview of the new email messages. This saves you significant time since you no longer have to check each mail account for new mail.
I still use a dialup modem. How will NetRanger help me?
NetRanger has full dialup connection management built-in. It will detect all your dialup connections on your computer, and allow you to start and stop them within NetRanger. It also detects when they are disconnected due to bad lines, ISP issues, etc. and will automatically re-establish the connection for you. A bandwidth monitor tells you exactly how much data has been sent and received. Stay connected with NetRanger!
NetRanger vs. Competitor Products
Why is NetRanger better than other products?
NetRanger is an extremely useful internet utility for people needing more information about their computer, their network connection and about internet hosts. It will help you discover more about your computer and internet connection in the fastest and easiest manner possible. It will also help you manage your email
accounts and help you learn more about any external attacks.
NetRanger uses multi-threaded and multi-connection technologies that make it very fast and efficient.
Instead of purchasing, learning and using multiple programs, NetRanger has all the tools in one integrated application. This saves you time and money.
Why not use the command line utilities such as ping and tracert?
NetRanger provides you an easy-to-use Windows application with all necessary tools integrated. You don't need to start a separate command line window and remember the commands and parameters. Everything is just one click away. If you're a system or web administrator and need this information regularly, this can saves you significant time.
NetRanger goes much further than just simple command line utilties. The POP3 mail checker, the dialup connection manager, the host and port scanner provide you with powerful management and analysis tools.
Troubleshooting Common Problems
How can I find out who owns the IP address I specified?
All IP address ranges are allocated to certain companies or organizations, so you can always find out who owns an IP address. As an example, let's use "202.104.32.212" to determine who owns this IP address.
The first step is to find out who is responsible for administrating "202.104". Use the Whois tool in NetRanger, and select "Whois.arin.net" as the host name and "202.104" as the Query condition. Click the Start button and NetRanger will determine the
owner. The result will tell you that this address is under the charge of the "Asia-Pacific NIC" server and that the corresponding Whois server is "Whois.apnic.net".
Now we can enter "Whois.apnic.net" in the host name box, and "202.104.32" as the Query condition. Click the Start button and NetRanger will determine the owner. The result will tell you detailed information about that address range, including the registrant, contacts, company name, phone numbers and more.
Whois is a very powerful tool. You can get help for a particular Whois server typically by issuing a blank query, or "?" as the query, or "help" as the query.
What is the difference between Finger and Whois?
Whois connects to a NIC server and tends to provide more in-depth data. Whois will only provide information that is registered at the NIC server. The most common use is to obtain information about the owner of a domain. Finger typically connects to the provider of the user you are fingering, and provides you with the log in information of users that are currently logged on to the system.
Where can I find the IP addresses of my computer?
To find out the IP address of your computer, select the Network Information menu item from the Tools menu. Then select a device from the Network Interfaces tree and the IP address will be displayed in the right hand information pane of the window along with other information about the device and connection.
You can copy the IP addresses into the Windows clipboard and paste them into other tools in NetRanger or other applications.
Does NetRanger support proxy servers or firewalls?
NetRanger does work with proxy servers and firewalls. You can use Ping or TraceRoute on your LAN behind the firewall without any modification. If you wish to use Ping or TraceRoute through the firewall, then the firewall must be configured to let ICMP messages pass through. Consult your firewall documentation or contact your network administrator to help you modify your firewall settings.
How can I configure NetRanger to use Outlook Express as my email client?
Go to the MailKit options page in the Options dialog and click the Browse button to locate the program file of Outlook Express. Usually the full path name will look something like "C:\Program Files\Outlook Express\msimn.exe".
How can I ping myself?
You can always ping your own computer by using the address "127.0.0.1". As a shortcut you can use "localhost" as a host name. You might also consider adding the line "127.0.0.1 localhost" to your Hosts file.
How do I know if a host computer supports Finger, Whois or any other service?
NetRanger will typically return a specific error if a host does not support a service. If you try to connect to a host and you get a "Winsock error 10061 (Connection refused)" message, you can safely assume that the host does not support the service.
Where can I find more `Quote of the Day' servers?
Most Windows NT servers support the Quote service, so this might be a place to start your search. Feel free to report other servers to Conceiva, so we may include them in future releases.
How can I minimize NetRanger to the System Tray?
Go to the General Options page in the Options dialog and click on the 'Run NetRanger in the system tray' checkbox.
Where is my Mail Account Setting file?
Since NetRanger v3.0 and higher, the mail account setting file ("mailacct.dat") for Windows 2000 or XP users is stored in a user's personal document and settings folder. Typically the path looks like "C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Application Data\NetRanger". For Windows 98 and Me users, the file is stored in the installation directory of NetRanger (typically "C:\Program Files\Conceiva\NetRanger").
You can transfer the mail account setting file between machines so that you don't need to input the accounts again.
Error: An attempt was made to access a socket in a way forbidden by its access permissions.
This information is most likely displayed when you are trying to run Ping, TraceRoute or Host Scanner. The reason is your computer account does not have permission to access the network protocols used by these tools. Try changing your access privileges
and Administrator rights. Contact your System Administrator for further help.
Error: rasapi32.dll not found
Typically, this message occurs if you have not installed Dialup Networking on your computer. Try installing Dialup Networking. It is found on your Windows Setup CD.
Error: wininet.dll not found
Your version of Microsoft Internet Explorer is too old for NetRanger or there are files missing. Download and install the latest version of Microsoft Internet Explorer from http://www.microsoft.com.
Error: ws2_32.dll not found
You maybe trying to run NetRanger on Window 95. Windows 95 is not supported by NetRanger.
Error: WinSock error 10061 (Connection refused) messages
These messages usually indicate that the host server does not support the requested service.
Error: WinSock error 11001 (Host not found) messages
These messages indicate that the name you are querying is not a host name (or alias) or it cannot be found in the host server's databases. This error may also be returned for Protocol and Service queries and means that the specified host name could not be found in the relevant database. This error will be mostly likely be raised when you are trying to resolve an IP address.
Error: Other WinSock error messages
The most common WinSock error messages will usually include information about the possible reason for the error. So this may help you understand the reason for the error. Typically the most common errors relate to using an invalid host name, an invalid IP address, or contacting a host that is down (not operating).
How do I get the latest updates to NetRanger?
Click the Help/Check for Updates menu item.
My Trial Version has expired. How do I register my copy of NetRanger?
You need to purchase NetRanger and a serial number and license key will be sent to you. To purchase NetRanger, click the Help/Buy Online menu item to go to Conceiva's secure online purchasing system.
System Requirements
What operating systems does NetRanger run on?
NetRanger works on Windows XP Professional, Windows XP Home, Windows 2000, Windows NT4 (SP6), Windows Me and Windows 98SE.
What else do I need on my computer to run NetRanger?
You will need to have Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 or higher installed on your computer. You can download the latest version of Internet Explorer from http://www.microsoft.com.
You must have at least 20MB hard disk space to install NetRanger.
It is recommended that you have set your screen graphics resolution to 16 bit, 24 bit or 32 bit color.
NetRanger will work with all internet connections such as ADSL, cable, ISDN, dialup modem, and microwave.
How NetRanger Can Help You
What will NetRanger tell me about my computer's settings and about the internet?
NetRanger contains a powerful collection of integrated tools that can tell you all about your computer's network settings, your internet connection, and about internet hosts and IP addresses.
If you are a system administrator, web administrator or just need to know more about your computer and internet connection, then NetRanger is for you!
It contains a comprehensive toolset that lets you drill into your computer's settings and find out about internet hosts and IP addresses. Standard tools like ping, trace route, whois, finger and host lookup are all included. In addition, advanced tools like host and port scanning, POP3 email checking and dialup connection management, take NetRanger further than other tools.
I have a web mail account. What is POP3 email checking?
NetRanger contains a complete POP3 email checker. It will check all your POP3 or web email accounts for any new email messages and notify you when the mail has arrived. It will also show you a preview of the new email messages. This saves you significant time since you no longer have to check each mail account for new mail.
I still use a dialup modem. How will NetRanger help me?
NetRanger has full dialup connection management built-in. It will detect all your dialup connections on your computer, and allow you to start and stop them within NetRanger. It also detects when they are disconnected due to bad lines, ISP issues, etc. and will automatically re-establish the connection for you. A bandwidth monitor tells you exactly how much data has been sent and received. Stay connected with NetRanger!
NetRanger vs. Competitor Products
Why is NetRanger better than other products?
NetRanger is an extremely useful internet utility for people needing more information about their computer, their network connection and about internet hosts. It will help you discover more about your computer and internet connection in the fastest and easiest manner possible. It will also help you manage your email
accounts and help you learn more about any external attacks.
NetRanger uses multi-threaded and multi-connection technologies that make it very fast and efficient.
Instead of purchasing, learning and using multiple programs, NetRanger has all the tools in one integrated application. This saves you time and money.
Why not use the command line utilities such as ping and tracert?
NetRanger provides you an easy-to-use Windows application with all necessary tools integrated. You don't need to start a separate command line window and remember the commands and parameters. Everything is just one click away. If you're a system or web administrator and need this information regularly, this can saves you significant time.
NetRanger goes much further than just simple command line utilties. The POP3 mail checker, the dialup connection manager, the host and port scanner provide you with powerful management and analysis tools.
Troubleshooting Common Problems
How can I find out who owns the IP address I specified?
All IP address ranges are allocated to certain companies or organizations, so you can always find out who owns an IP address. As an example, let's use "202.104.32.212" to determine who owns this IP address.
The first step is to find out who is responsible for administrating "202.104". Use the Whois tool in NetRanger, and select "Whois.arin.net" as the host name and "202.104" as the Query condition. Click the Start button and NetRanger will determine the
owner. The result will tell you that this address is under the charge of the "Asia-Pacific NIC" server and that the corresponding Whois server is "Whois.apnic.net".
Now we can enter "Whois.apnic.net" in the host name box, and "202.104.32" as the Query condition. Click the Start button and NetRanger will determine the owner. The result will tell you detailed information about that address range, including the registrant, contacts, company name, phone numbers and more.
Whois is a very powerful tool. You can get help for a particular Whois server typically by issuing a blank query, or "?" as the query, or "help" as the query.
What is the difference between Finger and Whois?
Whois connects to a NIC server and tends to provide more in-depth data. Whois will only provide information that is registered at the NIC server. The most common use is to obtain information about the owner of a domain. Finger typically connects to the provider of the user you are fingering, and provides you with the log in information of users that are currently logged on to the system.
Where can I find the IP addresses of my computer?
To find out the IP address of your computer, select the Network Information menu item from the Tools menu. Then select a device from the Network Interfaces tree and the IP address will be displayed in the right hand information pane of the window along with other information about the device and connection.
You can copy the IP addresses into the Windows clipboard and paste them into other tools in NetRanger or other applications.
Does NetRanger support proxy servers or firewalls?
NetRanger does work with proxy servers and firewalls. You can use Ping or TraceRoute on your LAN behind the firewall without any modification. If you wish to use Ping or TraceRoute through the firewall, then the firewall must be configured to let ICMP messages pass through. Consult your firewall documentation or contact your network administrator to help you modify your firewall settings.
How can I configure NetRanger to use Outlook Express as my email client?
Go to the MailKit options page in the Options dialog and click the Browse button to locate the program file of Outlook Express. Usually the full path name will look something like "C:\Program Files\Outlook Express\msimn.exe".
How can I ping myself?
You can always ping your own computer by using the address "127.0.0.1". As a shortcut you can use "localhost" as a host name. You might also consider adding the line "127.0.0.1 localhost" to your Hosts file.
How do I know if a host computer supports Finger, Whois or any other service?
NetRanger will typically return a specific error if a host does not support a service. If you try to connect to a host and you get a "Winsock error 10061 (Connection refused)" message, you can safely assume that the host does not support the service.
Where can I find more `Quote of the Day' servers?
Most Windows NT servers support the Quote service, so this might be a place to start your search. Feel free to report other servers to Conceiva, so we may include them in future releases.
How can I minimize NetRanger to the System Tray?
Go to the General Options page in the Options dialog and click on the 'Run NetRanger in the system tray' checkbox.
Where is my Mail Account Setting file?
Since NetRanger v3.0 and higher, the mail account setting file ("mailacct.dat") for Windows 2000 or XP users is stored in a user's personal document and settings folder. Typically the path looks like "C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Application Data\NetRanger". For Windows 98 and Me users, the file is stored in the installation directory of NetRanger (typically "C:\Program Files\Conceiva\NetRanger").
You can transfer the mail account setting file between machines so that you don't need to input the accounts again.
Error: An attempt was made to access a socket in a way forbidden by its access permissions.
This information is most likely displayed when you are trying to run Ping, TraceRoute or Host Scanner. The reason is your computer account does not have permission to access the network protocols used by these tools. Try changing your access privileges
and Administrator rights. Contact your System Administrator for further help.
Error: rasapi32.dll not found
Typically, this message occurs if you have not installed Dialup Networking on your computer. Try installing Dialup Networking. It is found on your Windows Setup CD.
Error: wininet.dll not found
Your version of Microsoft Internet Explorer is too old for NetRanger or there are files missing. Download and install the latest version of Microsoft Internet Explorer from http://www.microsoft.com.
Error: ws2_32.dll not found
You maybe trying to run NetRanger on Window 95. Windows 95 is not supported by NetRanger.
Error: WinSock error 10061 (Connection refused) messages
These messages usually indicate that the host server does not support the requested service.
Error: WinSock error 11001 (Host not found) messages
These messages indicate that the name you are querying is not a host name (or alias) or it cannot be found in the host server's databases. This error may also be returned for Protocol and Service queries and means that the specified host name could not be found in the relevant database. This error will be mostly likely be raised when you are trying to resolve an IP address.
Error: Other WinSock error messages
The most common WinSock error messages will usually include information about the possible reason for the error. So this may help you understand the reason for the error. Typically the most common errors relate to using an invalid host name, an invalid IP address, or contacting a host that is down (not operating).
How do I get the latest updates to NetRanger?
Click the Help/Check for Updates menu item.
My Trial Version has expired. How do I register my copy of NetRanger?
You need to purchase NetRanger and a serial number and license key will be sent to you. To purchase NetRanger, click the Help/Buy Online menu item to go to Conceiva's secure online purchasing system.