Net Tool Box - The Ultimate Mac Networking Utility


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Net Tool Box 3.1 Release Notes

Changes in Version 3.1
[NEW]
Rewrote Ping, Ping Scan and Traceroute to work fully x-platform. Windows 98/ME Note: Requires WinSock 2.
[NEW]
Added a contextual menu (right-click/ctrl-click) for IP addresses. You can now bring up a menu on practically any IP address shown throughout Net Tool Box providing information and options.
[NEW]
Added preferences option to remember tool presets. This will retain things like timeouts and port ranges betweeen sessions. Also added 'Reset' button in preferences to revert these presets to their defaults.
[NEW]
Added an 'out-of-date' warning to Mapper on first run. Caida's NetGeo database, which Mapper uses to retrieve network loactions, is no-longer maintained.
[CHG]
Removed Authorize facility to save a lot of headaches. You can authorise manually still if you'd like. See the FAQ for more info.
[CHG]
Updated About Box credits.
[CHG]
Windows: The toolbar is now de-mac-ified. No more aqua stripes and aqua buttons.
[CHG]
Changed the favorites popup menu to look better x-platform.
[CHG]
Re-named Rendezvous to 'Bonjour' to comply with Apple's fantastically sensible name-change!
[CHG]
Changed some toolbar icons. VPN interfaces now have an icon in the interfaces window.
[CHG]
The "Show WAN Address in Toolbar" option now gets it's IP from the version-checker routine. This means "Show WAN Address" will only work if version checking is enabled. The preferences window has been modified to reflect this change.
[FIX]
Using keyboard shortcuts for opening Favourites and Preferences windows on OS X no longer shows the application switcher.
[FIX]
Windows: ARP Table and Netstat are now working.
[FIX]
Fixed typos on Network Statistics window and Port Updater window.
[FIX]
"Favorites" is now spelled correctly.
[FIX]
Mac: ARP Table MAC addresses are now formatted correctly.
[FIX]
Windows: Console-output in terminals and whois now respect the fixed-width font set in the preferences.
[FIX]
Statistics Window: Now formats bytes correctly as MB, GB etc.
[FIX]
Netstat now works on Mac OS X 10.4, Tiger. Unfortunately, Apple have removed the tool used to relate sockets to processes, so for 10.4 and above, the 'Process' column is not available. Hopefully I can find a workaround, to bring the functionality back in the future.
Changes in Version 3.0
[NEW]
Net Tool Box now runs on WINDOWS!
[NEW]
Network statistics window (Mac OS X only).
[NEW]
Application-wide DNS resolver (TCP based).
[NEW]
DNS Query Tool: Re-written for the new TCP resolver. Now supports AXFR queries etc and is x-platform.
[NEW]
Preferences option to choose between the system DNS resolver (UDP) and the new Net Tool Box resolver.
[NEW]
Internal DNS Cache for faster resolving (both resolvers).
[NEW]
Preferences option to specify a DNS server for the new resolver.
[NEW]
Traffic Filter Sets: Create custom filters for that Traffic Watcher, and shown Netstat connections.
[NEW]
SMTP tool: Brand new tool for accessing advanced email-sending features.
[NEW]
Net Tool Box now shows a splash-screen at startup (Registered users can turn this off in the preferences).
[NEW]
Port Database: now has a session cache to allow quick access to port numbers in relevant tools.
[NEW]
Port Database: Now has an auto-update feature to get the latest registered port number listings from IANA.
[NEW]
Rendezvous: Re-written to use Apple's new x-platform API. The Rendezvous browser now supports the new DNS-SD meta-query ("Browse All Services" in the address pop-up). Note: The new API only works on Mac OS X 10.3 and above.
[NEW]
ARP Table: This is a new tool (accessible from the Help menu). It shows the system's ARP cache and resolves the 'friendly' interface name.
[OPT]
Various UI changes have been made to accommodate the Windows platform.
[OPT]
Demo Restrictions: Net Tool Box now has absolutely no restrictions when running as a demo. The only demo differences are:
  • You can't get rid of the splash screen in demo mode.
  • You will be shown a 'reminder' every third time you open a tool.
[OPT]
Network Interfaces window re-written to use the new (10.2+) Mac OS X SystemConfiguration framework.
[OPT]
Mapper now uses the Net Tool Box HTTP framework for streamlining with application-wide http settings.
[OPT]
HTTP Tool's cookie window now appears as a drawer on Mac OS X.
[OPT]
Netstat rewritten for x-platform compliance. Now uses more flexible filtering in the form of the new Traffic Filter Sets. Also added a 'Pause' button.
[OPT]
Packet Watcher tool removed in favour of a 'Show Packet Details Only' option in Traffic Watcher. The code-bases were almost identical, so I decided it would be easier to have one tool that does both.
[OPT]
Traffic Watcher now uses the Traffic Filter Sets.
[OPT]
Mac OS X Toolbars have been removed because they aren't x-platform.
[OPT]
To comply with Apple's preferences file naming conventions, the preferences file has been renamed for the new Net Tool Box domain name. The prefs are now saved under: 'net.NetToolBox.Net Tool Box.plist'. The old preferences file will be copied if it exists. It will not move, rename or delete the old preferences file, so you can still use previous versions of Net Tool Box.
[OPT]
Net Tool Box is now compiled using the Mac OS X native executable format, Mach-O. This means we can use lots of new Mac OS X frameworks (such as the System Configuration framework). It also makes authorising for ports less than 1024 much easier.
[OPT]
Authorisation routines rewritten for the new Mach-O target. Now once Net Tool Box is 'authorized at launch', every subsequent time it won’t need to double-launch. It sets the 'setuid' bit on the executable to make the authorization stay. You can now de-authorize Net Tool Box when in the authorized state. This re-sets all the privileges on Net Tool Box and the helper tools in /Library/ApplicationSupport/Net Tool Box.
[OPT]
Rendezvous presets are now stored in the preferences file and are edited in the Favorites Window.
[OPT]
Graphics: Net Tool Box's graphics elements are now TIFF files (instead of ICNS) to work x-platform.
[OPT]
Preferences: Made internal changes to use a x-platform XML parser (thanks Kevin!) instead of the built-in Mac OS X framework. Preferences are still stored in a plist file - even on Windows. Ha!
[OPT]
Version checker now uses a remote XML file to contain info for more than one platform.
[FIX]
De-authorizing: Net Tool Box no longer returns an error if your user account has a long UID (Active Directory users).
 
Changes in Version 2.5.1
[NEW]
Rewrote GUI Ping tool to work without Authorization.
[NEW]
Now looks good in Panther
[FIX]
Rearranged the menu bar to be in-keeping with OS X.
{FIX]
The Ping Scanner is now available in the tools menu and in the toolbar when not authorized (you will be prompted to authorize to use it)
[FIX]
Fixed the Interfaces window on Panther
 
Changes in Version 2.5
[NEW]
New DNS Query Tool (For advanced DNS lookups)
[NEW]
Man page viewer
[FIX]
Fixed the loosing-prefs-when-authorized bug.
[FIX]
Fixed a typo in the menu (Thanks Joe!).
[FIX]
Fixed the installer to install to /Applications/
[FIX]
Fixed the link to the online user guide.
 
Changes in Version 2.4
[NEW]
New Rendezvous Tools (Browser, Broadcaster & Lookup)
[NEW]
New Searchable Port Database + Access Drawers
[NEW]
Rewritten Traceroute tool in non-textual format
[NEW]
New SSL Hook Tool
[NEW]
UDP Terminal completely re-written. Support for multicast.
[NEW]
New Preferences Interface.
[NEW]
Version Checker
[NEW]
Option to display WAN address on the Toolbar's IP Menu
[OPT]
Re-wrote MX Lookup. Now has "Use This Server:" option.
[OPT]
Reorganized the toolbar to accommodate Rendezvous. (The Service Scan tool is now under "Port Scan")
[OPT]
Updated the Mail List Registration System (so I don't get hundreds of join-request emails every day!)
[OPT]
Improved App Authorization (also in Packet Watcher, Traffic Watcher and Traceroute - no more dodgy password systems)
[OPT]
Changed the Preferences system to use the standard Apple user-defaults system. Old Prefs will still work for v2.3.
[OPT]
Added support for IP Over Firewire
[OPT]
Removed Registration reporting system (some people got pretty pissed about it!)
[OPT]
A few minor interface updates (Icons, Live Resizing etc.)
[OPT]
Compiled using new (more efficient) compiler (RB5)
[OPT]
DNS now multi-threaded - improved speed on scanners etc.
[OPT]
Fixed the crashing Preferences window (I think...)
 
Changes in Version 2.3.1
[FIX]
Very minor update to fix registration system.
 
Changes in Version 2.3
[NEW]
New aquafied interface
[NEW]
Packet Watcher Tool
[NEW]
Authorize facility
[NEW]
New secure registration system
[OPT]
No annoying splash screen
[OPT]
Added "NIC Whois", "Show Map" and "Interface Info" to toolbar IP menu.
[OPT]
Added Aqua List stripes + Interface palate list lines
[OPT]
Interfaces + favorites palates keep their state on close
[OPT]
Traffic Watcher now remembers your last used interface
[FIX]
Traffic Watcher now shows correct Interfaces (including "ppp0")
[FIX]
HTTP Tool now handles ports (other than 80) in the format "host:port"
[FIX]
Interface Palate now shows correct auxiliary info.
 
Changes in Version 2.2.3
[NEW]
Re-Written NetStat Tool. With "Hippy" mode coloring + filters.
[NEW]
Option to make windows transparent when app is inactive.
[OPT]
UDP Terminal is now accessible on ANY OS X System.
[OPT]
Added "MTU Size" to Interface attributes
[OPT]
Added Aqua List stripes + Interface palate list lines
[OPT]
Interfaces + favorites palates keep their state on close
[OPT]
Traffic Watcher now remembers your last used interface
[FIX]
Traffic Watcher now shows correct Interfaces (including "ppp0")
[FIX]
HTTP Tool now handles ports (other than 80) in the format "host:port"
 
Changes in Version 2.2.2
[NEW]
Scroll Wheel support in OS X
[NEW]
Added "Select All" menu item for text fields
[NEW]
Fixed-Width Fonts now user-definable in Preferences.
[NEW]
Added quick buttons in Prefs for opening the Preference Panes
[NEW]
OS X now has a working Interfaces Palette (removed in version 2.x)
[OPT]
Traffic Watcher now prints much more understandable headers.
[OPT]
Added the "Loopback" network interface to Traffic Watcher
[OPT]
Added a protocol specifier in Traffic Watcher
[OPT]
Legacy Ping and Ping Scan now have correct "Aqua" interface.
[OPT]
Rewritten HTTP Tool - More stable & now has Authenticate ability
[OPT]
HTTP Proxy Support in HTTP Tool
[OPT] Interfaces Palate displays MAC Addresses and Domain Names.
[FIX] Fixed HUGE bug that prevented Ping, NetStat, Traceroute & Traffic Watcher being used on systems previous to OS X 10.2
[FIX] Implemented new stable"Window" menu
[FIX] Numerous spelling mistakes - don't I feel stupid! (Thanks to Alan German for pointing them out)
[FIX] Name Lookup: Window Now resizes properly.
[FIX] Name Lookup: Now ctrl-click (right-click) works to open contextual menu.
   
Changes in Version 2.2.1
[NEW] HTTP Tool
[NEW] NetStat Tool (OS X Only)
[NEW] Traffic Watcher Tool (OS X Only)
[NEW] Window Manipulation features
[OPT] All windows now display in true Aqua fonts
[OPT] Interface enhancements
[OPT] Preferences Window displays properly on OS X
[FIX] Preferences menu is now under the Application Menu in OS X
[FIX] The Toolbar now resizes properly when changing screen resolution
[FIX] The status indicator on Mapper is now static.
   
Changes in Version 2.0
[NEW] Traceroute Feature (OS X Only)
[NEW] Service Scan Feature
[NEW] UDP Terminal
[NEW] DNS Query Feature
[NEW] MX (Mail Exchanger) Query Feature
[NEW] Network Interfaces Feature
[NEW] Favorites Facilities On Host Services (Including AutoComplete)
[NEW] HTTP Proxy Support for Mapper (Location Manager Aware)
[NEW] Preferences Window for Proxy and AutoComplete options.
[NEW] Fast Mode on Port Scanner
[OPT] Port Scan Now Has Timeout Facility
[OPT] Re-Written transport classes for Mapper
[OPT] Ping Scanner can resolve DNS on returned addresses
[OPT] Whois responses and Terminal transcripts display text in the correct font.
[OPT] Numerous Interface Modifications
[OPT] Reorganized Menus
[OPT] Slight printing changes
[OPT] Faster Port Description retrieval.
[OPT] The splash screen no longer has a countdown, the only demo restriction is the 5 minute timeout (which now has a gatekeeper!).
[FIX] Rewritten Ping Scan classes that used to cause Stack Overflow Errors.


© Charlie Boisseau 2005
18.232.188.122

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