Table of Contents
Getting Started
NeTTeR is a comprehensive network tools suite for macOS that provides a wide range of network diagnostic and monitoring capabilities.
Launching NeTTeR
After installation, launch NeTTeR from your Applications folder. The application window will open with the Network Interfaces view selected by default.
Navigation
The application features a sidebar navigation with two main categories:
- Local Tools: Tools for monitoring and managing your local system's network configuration
- Remote Tools: Tools for testing and diagnosing remote network connections
Search Functionality
Use the search bar at the top of the sidebar to quickly find any tool by name. The search is case-insensitive and filters results in real-time.
Local Tools
Local tools provide information about your system's network configuration and status.
ARP
View and manage the Address Resolution Protocol table for IP to MAC address mappings.
Bandwidth Monitor
Monitor real-time network bandwidth usage and statistics.
Bandwidth Per Connection
Track bandwidth consumption per individual network connection.
Connection Monitor
Monitor active network connections in real-time with detailed statistics.
DNS Cache Flusher
Clear the local DNS cache and test DNS resolution.
IP Calculator
Perform IP address calculations including subnetting and CIDR operations.
Multicast Group Monitor
Monitor multicast groups and their associated network traffic.
Network Health Dashboard
Comprehensive overview dashboard displaying key network metrics and health indicators.
Network Segment Analyzer
Analyze network segments, subnets, and their relationships.
Network Topology Mapper
Discover and visualize network topology and device relationships.
Netstat
Display active network connections, listening ports, and routing tables.
QoS Monitor
Monitor Quality of Service metrics and traffic prioritization.
Route
View and manage the system routing table with detailed route information.
SNMP Monitor
Query SNMP-enabled devices to retrieve network statistics and device information.
Subnet Calculator
Calculate subnet masks, network addresses, and host ranges.
System Information
Display comprehensive system and network configuration details including hostname.
VPN Status
Monitor VPN connection status and configuration information.
Remote Tools
Remote tools allow you to test and diagnose network connections to remote hosts.
DIG
Perform advanced DNS queries with detailed record information and query options.
HTTP Headers
Analyze HTTP request and response headers from web servers.
IP Geolocation
Retrieve geographic location and network information for IP addresses.
MAC Lookup
Look up MAC address vendor information and manufacturer details.
MTU Discovery
Discover the Maximum Transmission Unit (MTU) for network paths.
Netcat
Establish network connections and perform network communication tasks.
Network Quality
Test and measure network quality metrics including latency and packet loss.
NSLookup
Perform name server lookups and DNS resolution queries.
Ping
Test network connectivity and measure round-trip time to remote hosts.
Port Scanner
Scan remote hosts to identify open ports and services.
Speed Test
Measure network speed and bandwidth performance.
SSL/TLS Certificate Analyzer
Analyze SSL/TLS certificate validity, expiration, and certificate chain for remote hosts.
Traceroute
Trace the network path to a destination showing each hop and latency.
Wake-on-LAN
Send Wake-on-LAN magic packets to remotely wake computers on the network.
Whois
Retrieve domain registration and IP address ownership information.
Key Features
Export & Save
Most tools include an "Export" button that opens a save dialog, allowing you to save results to a file. The export functionality uses macOS standard file dialogs for easy file management.
Search and Filter
Use the search bar to quickly find tools, and use filter options in tools like Netstat to narrow down results.
Sorting
Table views support sorting by clicking column headers. Click once for ascending order, click again for descending.
Context Menus
Right-click on items in table views (like Netstat) to access context menus with copy options for specific data.
Menu Bar Integration
NeTTeR includes a menu bar icon for quick access. Click the icon to access frequently used tools or open the main application.
Dark Mode
The application supports both light and dark modes. Toggle between themes from the Help menu or menu bar.
Tips & Tricks
Tip: Use the search bar to quickly jump to any tool without scrolling through the sidebar.
Tip: Right-click on table rows to access context menus with copy options for specific data fields.
Tip: Export results from tools to save them for later analysis or sharing.
Tip: Use the menu bar icon for quick access to frequently used tools without opening the main window.
Tip: Configure ping count (1-50) in the Ping tool to control how many packets are sent. Use lower counts for quick connectivity tests and higher counts for detailed network analysis.
Tip: Table columns are perfectly aligned between headers and data rows. Resize the window horizontally and the alignment is maintained automatically.
Tip: Use the Export button to save table data (Netstat, ARP, Route, etc.) to text files for later analysis or reporting.
Troubleshooting
Tools Not Working
Some tools require network permissions. Ensure NeTTeR has the necessary permissions in System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Privacy > Network.
Traceroute Issues
NeTTeR uses a custom TCP-based traceroute implementation that works within macOS app sandbox restrictions. It may show different results than traditional ICMP-based traceroute.
Port Scanner Limitations
Due to macOS app sandbox restrictions, port scanning uses TCP connection attempts rather than raw socket access. This provides functional port scanning within security constraints.
Note: Some advanced network operations are limited by macOS app sandbox restrictions. NeTTeR uses alternative implementations that work within these constraints while providing functional network diagnostics.
Enterprise Tools Requirements
Several enterprise tools require additional software to be installed:
- SNMP Monitor: Install net-snmp using Homebrew:
brew install net-snmp
Network Health Dashboard
Use the Network Health Dashboard for a quick overview of your network's overall health. The health score is calculated from multiple metrics including latency, packet loss, and bandwidth.
Support
For additional support or to report issues, please contact:
Email: ecain@ecain.org
Website: www.ecain.org/netter/
License
NeTTeR is licensed under the MIT License.
Copyright © 2026 Eric Cain