TCP/IP Network Assistant © 1996 - Carl Solder

DESCRIPTION

This is a demo version of the TCP/IP Network Assistant. It is a tool
for validating TCP/IP addresses against a subnet mask, working out a 
subnet mask against a required number of subnets or hosts, and a 
number of extra facilities that should delight any network administrator.

What is the TCP/IP Network Assistant?

The TCP/IP Network Assistant is a bundle of tools that can assist a
network administrator when designing and working with TCP/IP Networks. 
It has three main functions, namely

1) TCP/IP Calculator - used to validate a TCP/IP address against a
   given subnet mask
   * Converts address and mask into binary
   * Colour codes binary according to Network/Subnet and Host
   * Displays full network and subnet address
2) TCP/IP Subnetter - used to work out a subnet mask for a given 
   network address
   * Displays calculated subnet mask
   * Displays actual # subnets and hosts per subnet
   * Displays total hosts available
   * Displays # wasted host addresses
   * Displays address range 
3) TCP/IP Tools - Extra tools for 
   * Displaying TCP/UDP Port numbers
   * Bin/Dec/Hex converter
   * Displaying Ethernet vendor codes
   * Displaying TCP/IP Multicast addresses
   * Converting Canonical to NonCanonical MAC Addresses (and vice versa)
   * Full windows help 

Read on for further information on this program.

Contents:
---------------------------------------------
Overview of TCP/P Network Assistant
Installation Requirements
Installing TCP/IP Network Assistant
How to use TCP/IP Network Asistant
   Calculator
   Subnetter
   Tools
Comments
Disclaimers

=======================================
Overview of TCP/IP Network Assistant
=======================================

N.B.This shareware version is a demo version. It does not have all
features available. The full version can be obtained when one
registers!!!

TCP/IP network Assistant is a tool for any network individuals 
involved in working with TCP/IP addressing creation and validation, and
working ith TCP/IP subnet masks.

After teaching a number of classes on TCP/IP Addressing and subnetting
I decided to write a program to make this process easier. While most of the 
shareware programs I have heard about calculate a subnet mask for you, 
this program provides some extra functionality that should be of interest
to you. As a shareware product, it is also reasonably priced!!! 

TCP/IP Network assistant gives the user many facilities that assist
administrators when working on TCP/IP Networks. Some of these facilities
include:

TCP/IP Calculator (Not seen in similar shareware programs)

	* Validating an address against a given subnet mask
	  - Doesn't allow all '1's or '0's in either subnet or host
	* Displays address and mask in binary
	  - Colour codes network, subnet and host bits 
	* For a given address, it displays
	  - Broadcast address for the given subnet
	  - Full network address
	  - Full subnet address
	  - Network component of address
	  - Subnet component of address
	  - Host component of address 

TCP/IP Subnetter

	* Calculates correct subnet mask against either required
	  - number of hosts, or
	  - number of subnets
	* For calculated subnet mask, it displays
	  - Actual subnets available
	  - Actual hosts per subnet
	  - Total host addresses available with calculated subnet
	  - Wasted host addresses with this subnet
	* Displays address range for given subnet mask

TCP/IP Tools (Some handy extras you might find useful)

	* Canonical <-> Non canonical MAC address converter
	* Binary <-> Decimal <-> hex converter
	* Display Vendor codes in mac address
	* Display common TCP/UDP port numbers
	* Display common TCP/IP Multicast addresses

Full Windows Help

===========================
Installation Requirements
===========================

This shareware program is a 16 bit windows application. As such it requires
a 16 bit windows enviroment to run.

It is suggested that the user be running at least the following
operating enironment:

486 processor (33Mhz or higher)
At least 8Mb RAM
An operating system capable of supporting 16 bit windows programs
	(ie Windows 3.1 or higher , WFW 3.1 or higher, Win95, Win NT, etc)
Spare 3Mb of Disk Space


===================================
Installing TCP/IP Network Assistant
===================================

1) Unpack using PKUNZIP the TNA16.ZIP file in a temporary location
   (ie: C:\TEMP).      

2) Run SETUP.EXE

   Setup will install the TCP/IP Network Assistant and create a 
   program icon for you.

3) Run NA16S.EXE by 

   * Clicking the icon created by the installation program, 
   * Windows 3.1 - by selecting 'RUN' from the 'File' menu option 
     under Program Manager,
   * Windows 95 - Select Start button, then Programs, then look for 
     the TCP/IP network assistant folder or using the explorer program,
     locate the above program in its folder and double click on it.

====================================
How to use TCP/IP Network Assistant
====================================

N.B. Where ever you place your mouse on any of the windows, the status
bar at the bottom of that window will display its function.

A full hypertext sensitive help facility is provided with this
program. Use it where applicable.

The first panel shown is the message window. The OK button is disabled
for a while to enable you to read the conditions of use of the program.
Click on OK to start the network assistant.

The next panel is a front end to all of the facilities. Click on the 
option button and the message display area will inform you what that
option can do. If you wish to initiate that function, then click on 
the button at the bottom of the screen to start that function.

TCP/IP Calculator

Enter a TCP/IP address and subnet mask in the input fields. Either click
on the calculate button (Top left hand corner - button showing finger
pressing button) or press enter. If the address is valid (error checking 
is done), the results will be displayed in the lower part of the window,
othrwise an error msg will indicate the problem.


TCP/IP Subnetter

Enter the network portion of your IP address in the first input field.
The program will open only those parts of the address window depending
on the class of address being entered.

Next enter either the number of subnets you require, or the number of hosts
you require in the input fields at the right of the window.

Press enter or click the button displaying a finger pushing a key on an
keyboard to start the calculation of the appropriate subnet mask.

Once this calculation has been performed, the "Display Address Range" 
button can be clicked to display the valid address range for the entered
network address against the calculated subnet mask.


TCP/IP Tools

This facility is displayed as a tabbed folder. Click on the approporiate
TAB to access that facility. Follow the instructions in the help window 
on the left to use that facility.

========
Comments
========

I cannot promise to reply to any comments sent to me
by email. However, any constructive comments will be
welcome.


===========
Disclaimers
===========

Beyond a fee for the reproduction and media cost, no fee 
may be charged for distribution of this software without 
written consent of the author.

This software claims no warranty, implied or otherwise. This 
software is provided "AS IS".  The author claims no 
responsibility for any damages that might be caused by 
the use or abuse of this software.  This software remains 
the property of the author.  This software may not be 
modified in any way.





