Netstat vs. Netstat -p

Attribute	Netstat	Netstat -p
Displays active TCP connections	Yes	Yes
Displays active UDP connections	Yes	Yes
Displays listening ports	Yes	Yes
Displays process ID (PID)	No	Yes
Displays process name	No	Yes

Introduction

Netstat and Netstat -p are two commonly used commands in networking to display network connections, routing tables, and interface statistics. While both commands provide similar information, there are some key differences between them that make each command unique in its own way.

Netstat

Netstat is a command-line tool that displays network connections, routing tables, interface statistics, masquerade connections, and multicast memberships. When you run the Netstat command without any options, it displays a list of all active connections on the system, along with the protocol, local address, foreign address, state, and process ID (PID) of each connection.

Netstat can be used to troubleshoot network connectivity issues, identify unauthorized connections, and monitor network traffic. It is a versatile tool that provides valuable information about the network activity on a system.

One of the limitations of Netstat is that it does not provide detailed information about the processes associated with each network connection. This can make it difficult to identify which processes are responsible for specific network activity.

Overall, Netstat is a powerful tool for monitoring network connections and troubleshooting network issues, but it lacks the ability to provide detailed process information.

Netstat -p

Netstat -p is a variation of the Netstat command that displays the process ID (PID) and name of the program associated with each network connection. When you run the Netstat -p command, it provides a more detailed view of the network connections on the system by showing the processes that are using each connection.

By including process information in the output, Netstat -p makes it easier to identify which programs are responsible for specific network activity. This can be useful for troubleshooting network issues, monitoring network traffic, and identifying unauthorized connections.

One of the advantages of Netstat -p is that it provides a more comprehensive view of network connections by including process information. This can help system administrators and network engineers better understand the network activity on a system.

However, one limitation of Netstat -p is that it may not work on all operating systems or may require additional permissions to display process information. This can make it less accessible than the standard Netstat command.

Comparison

• Netstat displays network connections without process information, while Netstat -p includes process information for each connection.
• Netstat is a standard command available on most operating systems, while Netstat -p may not be supported on all systems.
• Netstat is a versatile tool for monitoring network connections and troubleshooting network issues, while Netstat -p provides a more detailed view of network connections by including process information.
• Netstat lacks the ability to provide detailed process information, while Netstat -p makes it easier to identify which programs are responsible for specific network activity.
• Netstat -p may require additional permissions to display process information, making it less accessible than the standard Netstat command.

Conclusion

Both Netstat and Netstat -p are valuable tools for monitoring network connections, troubleshooting network issues, and identifying unauthorized connections. While Netstat provides a basic view of network connections, Netstat -p offers a more detailed view by including process information. System administrators and network engineers can benefit from using both commands to gain a comprehensive understanding of the network activity on a system.