21 freeware console tools released :)

[Wayne - DiamondCS]

I've just uploaded 21 console tools that are ready for public beta testing. Most of these tools have a security edge to them, but some are just designed to make life a bit easier (afterall, why work when you can let software do the work for you?) :)
Many of you will already be familiar with some of them, but ALL tools have been updated, and many of them are brand new. :)

You can download them from http://www.diamondcs.com.au/downloads/consoletools.zip (285kb)
As this is a beta release we'd love to hear your feedback if you have any questions, problems or suggestions. Thanks!

[Wayne - DiamondCS]

Here's a brief run-down of the tools ...

ANALYSIS & CONTROL:
OpenPorts - The powerful OpenPorts reveals which processes are behind the TCP and UDP network ports on your system.
CmdLine - Another of our more popular console tools, CmdLine is a one-of-a-kind that can actually reveal the commandline parameters of processes.
FolderMon - A powerful monitoring program that allows you to see all (or specific) file activity in a folder & subfolders or even an entire drive.
DelayExec - DelayExec allows you to start programs in a pre-execution state of suspension, where the process is loaded but code isn't initially executed.
Procs - Complete process control - listing (with full paths and process IDs), terminating, and module enumeration.
Windows - Complete control over all parent and child windows, including listing and modification.
CPUInfo - Displays a variety of information about your processor(s). Multi-CPU support, and detects serial number, speed, name, features and more.
Adapters - Displays information about all network adapters. Details include MAC address, Description, IP addresses, DHCP info and more.
Drivers - Lists all drivers on the system. Full image paths and base addresses are shown.
HTTPGet - Download files from HTTP/FTP servers from the command line!


USER INFO:
WhoAmI - Displays the current computer name, current user name, IP addresses, and Administrator status.
EnumIPs - Displays all local IP addresses, including broadcast and net mask details.
GetIP - Connects to the Internet to obtain your real Internet IP address.
IsAdmin - Displays the current user name and determines if the user has Administrator privileges.


FILE TOOLS:
FindAll - A fast and powerful tool for searching the contents of files. Supports Unicode, case (in)sensitivity, subdirectory searching and more.
StrDump - Scan a file for text strings - a quick, useful way to avoid sifting through 'junk' data.
HexDump - Dump the contents of any file in traditional 'hex dump' format.
MD5 - Quickly and easily calculate strong 128-bit checksums from strings and files. (GUI version also coming soon)


DATE & TIME
CityTime - CityTime is the fastest and easiest way to check the time in another city. Over 200 major cities of the world are supported.
UpTime - See how long your computer has been running, accurate to the second.
DateDiff - Calculate the number of days between two dates - a common task finally made easy!

[The Seeker]

Excellent! Thanks a lot Wayne; I've been having fun playing with them all :)

I especially like the CityTime and OpenPorts tools.

[beetlejuice69]

Some nice stuff Wayne...thanks.

[tonyjl]

Cheers Wayne, Downloading now

[Jooske]

I remember a recommendation to create a folder C;\console for all consoletools and add that folder to the PATH so they can be used from anywhere in the system, i saw elsewhere a tip to place them in \system32 for the same purpose.

[FanJ]

Thanks Wayne ! :)

I wasn't sure whether the page about the CONSOLE PROGRAM TIPS still exists, but I still have it stored. I thought that it might perhaps help some, so I'll copy it. I hope that that is OK.

====================

CONSOLE PROGRAM TIPS
Console programs differ slightly from normal applications that have a GUI (Graphical User Interface) in that they only print and input text. This offers speed advantages, especially for fast typers and others who prefer console-based programs. Console programs can be used in batch files, and the text that they output can be piped into files.
When starting a console program, you rarely would use Start | Run from Windows. First of all, load up your Windows Command Prompt. This is commonly (and incorrectly) referred to as a DOS Box, but it is actually an emulation of DOS and not DOS itself. When you're in the command prompt, you'll see the "prompt" - it may look something like this:

C:\>

Now, we want to change directory to the location that our console programs are in, like this:

cd console

The prompt changes to this:

C:\console>
Now we can run our console programs! Try this:

uptime

That will start uptime.exe, and you should see one line of text printed to the screen indicating how long your computer has been up for.
Instead of displaying the text on-screen, we'll pipe it to a file. Try this:

uptime > file.txt

Now, file.txt contains the one-line uptime string.
In some cases, a console application may print more than one screens worth of text at a time. You can slow this down so that only one screen is displayed at a time like this:

uptime | more

Uptime only prints one line of text, so you would never have to use "| more" with uptime.exe, but there are many console applications that this applies to.

[rdsu]

Great tools :)

Would be nice if you can make an help when we type on cmd "diammond help" and receive the list of the tools...

Thanks

[Jooske]

Put all the tools in one folder, in cmd type "dir" and you have them all.
For those who forgot:
type the tool name /? and you have the list of options.

In an older TDS version was a link to the cmd promt via TDS! Missed that again!
Somehow it must be able to include them in scripts and batchfiles, handy toys they are!

[rdsu]

-{ Quote: "Put all the tools in one folder, in cmd type "dir" and you have them all.
For those who forgot:
type the tool name /? and you have the list of options.

In an older TDS version was a link to the cmd promt via TDS! Missed that again!
Somehow it must be able to include them in scripts and batchfiles, handy toys they are!" }-
OK :)

[Wayne - DiamondCS]

Good information there Jooske :) Just to expand on a couple points ...
-{ Quote: "Put all the tools in one folder, in cmd type "dir" and you have them all." }-
That works but you have to be in that directory first, so don't forget to type something like the following: cd c:\diamondcs (or wherever you've saved the tools) :)

-{ Quote: "For those who forgot:
type the tool name /? and you have the list of options." }-
When it comes to console tools every company seems to have its own "help parameter" :) Some console applications don't support them at all, but it's usually one of the following (DiamondCS console tools supports all of them to make things easier for the user):
-?
/?
-help
/help
-about
/about

[dog]

Thanks Wayne and Gavin - Great Stuff

FolderMon ... looks like it could be quite interesting/useful.

I take it delayexec is an update of sloader? Giving advance knowledge of the PID, for PE spying.

Those Date & Time applications are nice and handy too as are the file tools. :)

Thanks

Steve

[JRosenfeld]

You can also add 'open command window here' to folder context (right click)menu, so you just go to the folder where the tools are and open cmd from there directly. Saves changing path in cmd.

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\cmd]
@="Open Command Window Here"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\cmd\command]
@="cmd.exe /k \"cd %L\""

[dog]

Wayne, any chance for a tool like foldermon for the registry?

[tuatara]

Wayne, you make even Unixspecialists feel at home with these tools.

Another tool, something like 'grep', would be usefull as well

[Wayne - DiamondCS]

dog,
-{ Quote: "Wayne, any chance for a tool like foldermon for the registry?" }-
Its not currently on the cards but never say never. (RegistryProt already has code that could be used for such a tool) :)

tuatara,
-{ Quote: "Wayne, you make even Unixspecialists feel at home with these tools.
Another tool, something like 'grep', would be usefull as well" }-
Actually there are several ports and versions of grep for Windows already so I'm not sure it'd be worth pursuing at this stage. :)

[tuatara]

Perhaps a special 'registry grep' that would be extremely usefull
and i don't think it already excists?

With this it would be possible to see IF a certain patern i used in the registry
without having to start an editor, which is in some cases
(from the recovery console/Bartpe etc. difficult).

[worldcitizen]

I TOLD YOU all that DCS would begin releasing stuff just before Christmas and I was RIGHT.

I expect DCS to release their new program and site in time for Christmas if not already as I haven't yet checked but DCS like all of us need pocket money so be assured that they will release their new software in time for them to fill their pockets.

Dave

[dog]

-{ Quote: "I expect DCS to release their new program and site in time for Christmas if not already as I haven't yet checked but DCS like all of us need pocket money so be assured that they will release their new software in time for them to fill their pockets." }-I don't think so Dave. :-\ Maybe we'll see the release of PG 3.2, but we won't be seeing anything brand new before Christmas. That's wishful thinking on your part, but that's all ... I wouldn't get anyone's hopes up, as it's just not gonna happen.

[Detox]

Wild speculations removed; the topic here is

-{ Quote: "21 freeware console tools released :)" }-

[Wayne - DiamondCS]

Dave,
PG v3.2 will definately be released before Christmas (the hopefully-final beta was made available today), we've just released a new version (and another update) to Port Explorer, the new website is just around the corner although no date specified yet, and the new as-yet-undisclosed program will be ready for beta testing quite early in the new year. :)

But enough of that for now, getting back to the topic at hand ... :)

tuatara,
-{ Quote: "Perhaps a special 'registry grep' that would be extremely usefull
and i don't think it already excists?" }-
I haven't searched for any, but are you sure there are no registry-searching programs with wildcard/regular expression search capability? I'd be surprised if there wasn't at least one, but if there isn't one then maybe that's something we can have a look at in the new year. :)

[JRosenfeld]

I think regalyzer by PepiMK does what you want. It allows flexible search, including wildcard, etc.

http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/index.html

[controler]

Hello & Happy Holidays


Nice tools Wayne:)

Just a couple things to build on what jooske mentioned.

You can create a new folder using windows in the root DIR. I mentioned that for the non DOS ( command line ) users. or if you are at the root c:\ you can type
mkdir console and create one.

Also for non DOS users, it is just easy to click start menu, programs, accessories, then right click on command prompt and send it to the desktop as a short cut.

Will these programs see all the hidden files as well or does the user need to unhide them the usual way in Windows? OR do they need to use ATTRIB /?

Of course if using PG with exe protection enabled you will get alerts on all these tools when executed.

Navigating in DOS isn't that hard. Just remember c:\ is the root DIR and from there you can only go forward to different DIR's and folders.

For instance, if you created a desktop shortcut to the command line as I memtioned, you will mst likely be at Documents and settings\yourname\

if you created a folder at the root DIR you will just type

cd\console and hit enter

For a non DOS user, I will still recommend the user create the folder at c:\ using windows explorer and then download the tools to that folder.
If you want to run the tools from system32 as Jooske mentioned. Do the same thing.

then to get there type cd\windows\system32


Hope this helps.

Guess someone could make some batch files and the non DOS users could just click on them in a WIndows Desktop folder (DIR)

controler

[narq]

create a file on your desktop and enter the following:

cmd /k cd\Console

save the file with a .bat extension ("Console" is where the files are located, if you have them somewhere else, replace Console with the directory you created), now double-click the .bat file and DOS should open in the C:\Console directory (assumes desktop and file locations are both on C:\)

[iceni60]

i put all command line stuff in system32 that way you don't need to cd to it because windows automatically searches there when you enter a command.

are there a windows command that do the same things as the tab command in Linux? it gives you all the possible options to complete a command if you can't remember it. and there's the up/down keys as well which gives you the history of all your commands, is there a windows equivalent?

thanks, Wayne. i'm abit of an idiot with CLI i was using it earlier today but gave up in the end. i managed to update my java though by finding which version i had java -version 8)

one thing i do which helps me is to enable QuickEdit Mode so you can cut and paste easily by hightlighting and right-clicking with the mouse :D you can do it ny clicking the dos icon at the very top left of the box and selecting properties from the dropdown, then click the options tab and tick the QuickEdit box 8)

this is the checksum i get on the zip
F314DB8EB6AE751BBCCC8E046F7846F5

C:\Documents and Settings\iceni\Desktop\consoletools>md5 C:\Documents and Settings\iceni\Desktop\consoletools.zip
F314DB8EB6AE751BBCCC8E046F7846F5

8) 8) i quite like CL, i've already got some of the programs from their old page

[Smokey]

-{ Quote: "I've just uploaded 21 console tools that are ready for public beta testing" }-
Txs, i will give it a shot;)

[Wayne - DiamondCS]

-{ Quote: "i put all command line stuff in system32 that way you don't need to cd to it because windows automatically searches there when you enter a command." }-
Just to expand on that, Windows searches through directories specified in a global variable called path, and you can see these directories by simply typing "set path" at the command prompt. You should see your Windows directory, the Windows system32 directory and a few others, and you can also see the search order that they're in.

Like you've found it's easiest to simply copy console tools (including the DiamondCS ones) to your Windows or system32 directory, but you can also keep them in a seperate directory such as C:\Console\, but you then need to add that directory to the path variable. :)

[new user]

-{ Quote: "Just to expand on that, Windows searches through directories specified in a global variable called path, and you can see these directories by simply typing "set path" at the command prompt. You should see your Windows directory, the Windows system32 directory and a few others, and you can also see the search order that they're in.

Like you've found it's easiest to simply copy console tools (including the DiamondCS ones) to your Windows or system32 directory, but you can also keep them in a seperate directory such as C:\Console\, but you then need to add that directory to the path variable. :)" }-

How do you change/add path variables?

[Wayne - DiamondCS]

Right-click on My Computer and select Properties
Go to the Advanced tab, and press the Environment Variables button
Here you can edit system variables, including the one we want - Path

[Wayne - DiamondCS]

Microsoft have a lot more detailed information on this:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;310519&sd=tech
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=100843
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/ntcmds_shelloverview.mspx

[Ice_Czar]

-{ Quote: "You can also add 'open command window here' to folder context (right click)menu, so you just go to the folder where the tools are and open cmd from there directly. Saves changing path in cmd.

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\cmd]
@="Open Command Window Here"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\cmd\command]
@="cmd.exe /k \"cd %L\""" }-

while most folks that would find manually editing the registry daunting
would also likely not be playing with these tools
there is a freeware shell extention that will do the same thing
Drop To DOS (http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/utilities.html)
Ive used it for a few years now, it certainly is quicker to install :p

[eyes-open]

As Wayne has already introduced Microsoft links:-

A direct link to Microsoft Command-line reference A-Z

http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/ntcmds.mspx

[GUI_Tex]

Dont forget the first line

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\cmd]
@="Open Command Window Here"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\cmd\command]
@="cmd.exe /k \"cd %L\""

[pykko]

good collection. I can't wait to test them.

[bugseeker]

Well, I think it's time to find bugs in these beta tools, right ?

I found one in the HTTPGet tool :

try to download the following URL : http://pdf.20minutes.fr/journal/20060719_STR.pdf

If you download it with Firefox or IE, it works and you can view the PDF file.
But HTTPGet seems to download only part of the file, and the end is truncated.

If DCS developpers think it's worth investigating, I would love to see a working version of this tool !

Looking for a reply ...

[bugseeker]

I tried another version of HTTPGet which works (at least for the sampled URL in my previous post).

The working version is the one included in the package at :
http://www.diamondcs.com.au/downloads/consoletools.zip

The "buggy" version (which I thought was the same file, but it's not) is the single file downloadable at :
http://www.diamondcs.com.au/downloads/httpget.zip