The Removal of macOS Network Utility
For many years, the macOS Network Utility was the go-to graphical tool for system administrators and power users needing to diagnose network issues. It provided an easy interface for Ping, Traceroute, Whois, and Port Scanning. However, starting with macOS Big Sur (macOS 11), Apple officially deprecated and removed the Network Utility app.
If you try to open the old application, you are greeted with a message stating that the tool is no longer supported. Fortunately, every function provided by the Network Utility is still available natively in macOS through the Terminal. By using the command-line alternatives, you can perform the exact same network diagnostics without needing third-party software.
How to Access the Terminal
All alternative commands must be executed within the macOS Terminal.
- Open Finder.
- Navigate to Applications > Utilities.
- Double-click the Terminal app to open the command-line interface.
Network Utility Alternatives in the Terminal
1. Ping (Testing Connectivity)
The Ping command sends packets to a specific IP address or domain to check if the destination is reachable and measures the response time.
Command:
ping [domain or IP address]
Example:
ping apple.com
Unlike Windows, the macOS ping command will run indefinitely until you stop it. To stop the ping process, press Control + C on your keyboard.
2. Traceroute (Tracing the Network Path)
Traceroute shows the exact path data takes from your Mac to a destination server, listing every router (hop) along the way. This is invaluable for identifying where a connection is failing.
Command:
traceroute [domain or IP address]
Example:
traceroute google.com
The Terminal will display a list of IP addresses and response times for each hop until the final destination is reached.
3. Whois (Looking Up Domain Information)
The Whois command queries public databases to find out who registered a specific domain name, their contact information, and the domain’s expiration date.
Command:
whois [domain]
Example:
whois digitash.com
4. Netstat (Viewing Network Connections)
Netstat provides detailed statistics about active network connections, routing tables, and interface statistics. This replaces the Netstat tab in the old utility.
Command:
netstat -nr
This specific command (using the -nr flags) displays the current routing tables, helping you identify your default gateway and active interfaces.
5. Port Scan (Checking Open Ports)
The old Network Utility had a built-in port scanner. In the Terminal, you can use the nc (netcat) command to scan for open ports on a target IP address.
Command:
nc -vz [IP address] [port range]
Example:
nc -vz 192.168.1.1 20-80
This command scans the IP address 192.168.1.1 for open ports between 20 and 80. The -v flag enables verbose output, and the -z flag tells netcat to scan for listening daemons without sending any data.
Using the Built-in Network Quality Tool
In macOS Monterey and later, Apple quietly introduced a new command-line tool specifically for testing internet speed and network quality, which serves as a modern addition to your diagnostic toolkit.
Simply open the Terminal and type:
networkquality
Press Enter, and your Mac will perform an upload and download speed test directly from the command line, providing a final report on your connection’s responsiveness.