This simple tool allows you to peform several network tests locally from my server located in the UK.
Ping - Input: IP address or host name. Sends signals (packets) to another computer on the Internet to see if they send a return or an 'echo.' If all the signals 'timeout' the computer may be disconnected from the Internet or at least unreachable from my server (or they have a firewall enabled). This feature only checks a computer connected to the Internet, it cannot verify the validity of an e-mail address. It also cannot check a specific web page, but you can check the main server to see if it is connected.
DNS Lookup - Input: IP address or host name. If an IP address is input this converts into a computer host name. It will also do the reverse process if a computer name is entered. This function has nothing to do with looking up e-mail addresses.
This program, will also do the same check against several DNS caches, and they should all return the same values.
Trace Route - Input: IP address or host name Traces the route through the Internet from Tiscali UK to the destination computer. The signal generally goes from a computer to the Internet Service Provider (ISP) and then to their provider until it reaches a 'backbone' provider. This could take one or many steps. It then eventually transfers to the destination 'backbone' provider and reverses the process to the destination computer. This feature only checks a computer connected to the Internet, it cannot verify the validity of an e-mail address. It also cannot check a specific web page (www.tiscali.co.uk is valid but www.tiscali.co.uk/sitemap.htm is not). Note that a traceroute may follow a completely different path as compared to downloading web pages or sending e-mail, but can give you a good indication if a customer phones with regard to slow downloads if the problem lies else where.