netstat command in MacOS

The netstat command in MacOS allows users to display network connections, routing tables, interface statistics, masquerade connections, and multicast memberships. It helps troubleshoot network issues and monitor network activity effectively.

netstat Syntax:

netstat [ options ] [ parameters ]

MacOS netstat Options:

Option	Description
-a, —all	Show both listening and non-listening sockets.
-t, —tcp	Display TCP protocol sockets.
-u, —udp	Display UDP protocol sockets.
-i, —interfaces	Show network interfaces.
-r, —routing	Display the kernel routing tables.
-s, —statistics	Display network statistics.
-p, —programs	Show process using sockets.
-A family, —address-family=family	Show only sockets of specified address family: inet, inet6, unix.
-n, —numeric	Show numerical addresses.
-l, —listening	Show only listening sockets.
-c, —continuous	Continuously display information.
-F form, —fib=filename	Display routing information from file.

netstat Parameters:

Parameter	Description
destination	Display routing information for the specified destination.
interface	Display information specific to the given network interface.
protocol	Display information for the specified protocol (tcp, udp, etc).
host	Display information for the specified host.
port	Display information for the specified port.

Caution

Exercise caution when using the netstat command, as it provides detailed network information that may expose sensitive data if shared or used improperly.

How to use netstat command:

Display All Listening Ports

netstat -l

Display a list of all listening ports on the system.

Display Statistics for All Protocols

netstat -s

Show statistics for all networking protocols.

Display Kernel Routing Table

netstat -r

Show the kernel routing table.

Display PID and Program for Each Connection

netstat -p

Display the PID and program name for each connection.

Display Network Interface Statistics

netstat -i

Display network interface statistics.

Display Only IPv4 Connections

netstat -4

Show only IPv4 connections.

Display Only TCP Connections

netstat -t

Show only TCP connections.

Display All Listening UDP Ports

netstat -u

Show all listening UDP ports on the system.

Tip

When using the netstat command in MacOS, make sure to refer to the man pages (man netstat) for detailed information on the available options and their usage. Additionally, consider using the -r option to display the kernel routing tables, and the -t option to show TCP connections. Experiment with different options to customize the output based on your requirements.

How do I use netstat in MacOS?

To use the netstat command in MacOS, execute the following command:

netstat --option <value>

How can I display active network connections with netstat in MacOS?

To display active network connections in MacOS using netstat, run the following command:

netstat -an

How do I check for listening ports with netstat on MacOS?

To check for listening ports in MacOS using netstat, use the following command:

netstat -tuln

How to show the PID/Program name along with network connections in MacOS using netstat?

To display the PID/Program name along with network connections in MacOS using netstat, execute the command below:

netstat -ap

How do I filter netstat output by a specific protocol in MacOS?

To filter netstat output by a specific protocol in MacOS, use the following command:

netstat -t -p tcp

How can I show the routing table in MacOS using netstat?

To display the routing table in MacOS using netstat, run the following command:

netstat -nr

How to display statistics for each protocol using netstat in MacOS?

To display statistics for each protocol in MacOS using netstat, execute the following command:

netstat -s

How do I show both listening and non-listening sockets in MacOS using netstat?

To show both listening and non-listening sockets in MacOS using netstat, use the following command:

netstat -a

How can I display only the numeric values in the output of netstat on MacOS?

To display only numeric values in the output of netstat in MacOS, run the following command:

netstat -n

Applications of the netstat command

• Display network connections
• Display routing table information
• Display interface statistics
• Display multicast group information
• Display network protocol statistics