[windows] Good tool for testing socket connections?

I'm writing a tcp/ip client and I would need a "test server" to be able to test easily. It should listen on a configurable port, show me when a client connects and what the client sent, allow me to manually enter text to send to the client. It should work on Windows.

Normally I would have use the simple but powerfull nc.exe (alias "Netcat" available as well on Unix as on Windows) but the antivirus detects it as an "hacker tool" so that my system administrator doesn't want me to use it at work.

Does anyone use another tool to test socket connections and is happy with it?

Try Wireshark or WebScarab second is better for interpolating data into the exchange (not sure Wireshark even can). Anyway, one of them should be able to help you out.

In situations like this, why not write your own? A simple server app to test connections can be done in a matter of minutes if you know what you're doing, and you can make it respond exactly how you need to, and for specific scenarios.

I also found a tool called TCP/IP Test Server [Edit: no longer available from the original developer, but still available via Brothersoft] which seems to do what I need too. But I didn't try it because it is not listed on big freeware-sites (like CNET...) and no source code is published so that it won't reassure a paranoid sysadmin.

netcat (nc.exe) is the right tool. I have a feeling that any tool that does what you want it to do will have exactly the same problem with your antivirus software. Just flag this program as "OK" in your antivirus software (how you do this will depend on what type of antivirus software you use).

Of course you will also need to configure your sysadmin to accept that you're not trying to do anything illegal...

Another tool is tcpmon. This is a java open-source tool to monitor a TCP connection. It's not directly a test server. It is placed in-between a client and a server but allow to see what is going through the "tube" and also to change what is going through.

I would go with netcat too , but since you can't use it , here is an alternative : netcat :). You can find netcat implemented in three languages ( python/ruby/perl ) . All you need to do is install the interpreters for the language you choose . Surely , that won't be viewed as a hacking tool .

Here are the links :

Perl implementation

Python implementation

Ruby Implementation