Using Telnet, you can determine whether a TCP/IP connection problem is due to a misconfiguration in Handler, or is the result of a network problem. Telnet ("telnetting") provides a better means of testing connectivity than Ping. This is because Telnet tests for connectivity over a specific port. Also, Telnet is much more thorough in its method of connectivity. Ping is like calling a phone number and hearing the ringtone at the other end; Telnet is like calling a phone number and someone picking up and answering.
Steps to Telnet to a server over specific port (using the command line Telnet utility found in Windows):
telnet
and click OK. You will see the Telnet command line interface.Turn on local echo so you can see the commands you are typing by entering the following command:
Connect to the server (for example, yourserver.domain.com) over port (for example, 80) by entering the following command:
If you can not connect, it means that the port is being blocked outside of the handler environment. A firewall might be blocking the port, or the server may not be running. Have the network administrator check the network configuration for hardware or software that might be blocking the port.
An unsuccessful connection attempt will look like this:
At this point, you will want to confirm the status of your connection. Enter the following command:
When you pressing Ctrl+]
, you will be brought back to a command prompt with a flashing cursor that looks like this:
Next, enter a status command and you will see the following if you are connected:
If you are connected to the server over port 80, you will see the following message: