Networking Commands
ip, netstat, ss.
Networking Commands is a free Ethical Hacking Academy lesson on CoddyKit — lesson 4 of 4. You can read the complete lesson below for free — then practise it hands-on in the browser with a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor. It is part of the Ethical Hacking Academy learning path, one of 4 lessons in the course, and your progress syncs across the web and the CoddyKit app.
Networking on the Command Line
Recon and pivoting both depend on understanding a host's network state. Linux gives you sharp tools to view interfaces, connections, and routes.
This lesson covers ip, netstat, and ss, plus connectivity testing.
Viewing Interfaces with ip
The modern ip command replaces the old ifconfig. Start by listing addresses on every interface.
ip addr show
ip a # short formRouting Table
The routing table tells you the default gateway and which subnets are directly reachable - essential for understanding where you can pivot.
ip route show
# default via 192.168.1.1 dev eth0The ARP Cache
The neighbor (ARP) table maps IPs to MAC addresses on the local segment, revealing other live hosts you have talked to.
ip neigh shownetstat
netstat shows network connections, listening ports, and the owning programs. It is older but still common on many systems.
netstat -tulpn
# t=tcp u=udp l=listening p=program n=numericss - The Modern netstat
ss is the faster modern replacement for netstat. It reads kernel socket data directly and supports the same flags.
ss -tulpn
ss -t state establishedFinding Listening Services
Listening ports reveal what services a host exposes - prime targets for attack. Filter for the LISTEN state.
ss -ltn
# shows TCP ports in LISTEN, numericConnectivity Testing
Confirm a host is reachable and trace the path to it.
ping -c 4 192.168.56.10
traceroute 192.168.56.10DNS Lookups
Resolving names exposes infrastructure. Use dig or host for queries and reverse lookups.
dig coddykit.com
dig -x 8.8.8.8 # reverse lookup
host coddykit.comQuick Connections with netcat
netcat (nc) reads and writes raw TCP/UDP. It is invaluable for banner grabbing, simple port checks, and reverse shells in a lab.
nc -nv 192.168.56.10 80 # connect and grab banner
nc -lvnp 4444 # listen for a connectionConfiguration Files
Network settings also live in files worth inspecting on a target:
/etc/hosts- static name-to-IP mappings./etc/resolv.conf- DNS servers./etc/hostname- the machine name.
cat /etc/hosts
cat /etc/resolv.confQuick Check
Identify the modern tool for socket inspection.
Recap
You learned the networking command set:
ip addr,ip route,ip neighfor interfaces, routes, and ARP.netstatand the modernssfor connections and listening ports.ping,traceroute,digfor reachability and DNS.ncfor raw connections and banner grabbing.
Next course: Bash scripting for security.
Frequently asked questions
Is the “Networking Commands” lesson free?
Yes — the full text of “Networking Commands” is free to read here on the web, and the Ethical Hacking Academy course includes 4 lessons in total. To practise it interactively (a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor) and unlock the rest of the Ethical Hacking Academy course, upgrade to CoddyKit PRO.
What will I learn in “Networking Commands”?
ip, netstat, ss. You practise Ethical Hacking Academy with hands-on code you run directly in the browser, and a 24/7 AI tutor answers your questions as you work through the lesson.
Do I need any experience to start Ethical Hacking Academy?
No prior experience is required. Ethical Hacking Academy on CoddyKit is structured for beginners through advanced learners; this is — lesson 4 of 4, so you can start here or from the beginning and move at your own pace.
How long does the “Networking Commands” lesson take?
Most CoddyKit lessons take about 5–10 minutes. Each one is bite-sized and interactive, so you make steady progress and pick up exactly where you left off across the web and the app.
Can I write and run code in this Ethical Hacking Academy lesson?
Yes. Every Ethical Hacking Academy lesson includes a built-in code editor, so you write and run real code right in your browser and get instant AI feedback — no local setup required.
All lessons in this course
- The Linux File System
- Essential Commands
- User and Process Management
- Networking Commands