---
name: cis-helpful-tools
title: Helpful tools for managing your CIS deployment
description: Some public-domain Unix system administration tools can help you manage your IBM Cloud® Internet Services (CIS) deployment.
last-updated: 2026-08-04
---

> ## Documentation Index
> The table of contents for this documentation set is at https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/cis?format=markdown
> The index for all IBM Cloud docs is at: https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/llms.txt
> Use these files to discover more information as needed.

# Helpful tools for managing your CIS deployment
{: #helpful-tools-for-managing-your-cis-deployment}

Some public-domain Unix system administration tools can help you manage your IBM Cloud® Internet Services (CIS) deployment.
{: shortdesc}

## Sysadmin tools
{: #cis-sysadmin-tools}

* `whois` (domain identification tool)
* `dig` (DNS tool)
* `cURL` (HTTP and HTTPS tool)
* `netcat` (IP and port tool)
* `traceroute` (network tool)

## Commercial tools for external and remote testing
{: #commercial-tools-for-external-and-remote-testing}

* GTMetrix (HTTP)
* Web page test (HTTP)
* WhatsMyDNS (DNS tool)
* G Suite Toolbox (DNS and HTTP)

## Tools for looking at logs and history
{: #tools-for-looking-at-logs-and-history}

HTTP Archive files (HAR files)

### Using `whois`
{: #using-whois}

`whois` is a UNIX system command line tool that you can use to look up registrar information for a given domain name or IP address. For example, the domain’s given authoritative servers or the owner of a particular IP address.

Examples:

`whois example.com`

`whois 8.8.8.8`

### Using `dig`
{: #using-dig}

`dig` is a Unix command line tool that can perform DNS queries and check DNS records for a specific domain. It is similar to `nslookup`.

The schema of this command is `dig <record_type> <domainname> <options>`

For example:

- `dig example.com`
- `dig my.example.com`
- `dig example.com +trace`
- `dig NS example.com`
- `dig example.com @ns.example.com`

### Using `cURL`
{: #use-curl}

`cURL` is a Unix command line tool that lets you transmit data by using the URL syntax. It’s commonly used to make HTTP requests or compare server responses.

The schema for this command is: `curl -option1 -option2 http://example.com/url`

For example:

- `curl -svo /dev/null http://www.example.com`
- `curl -svo /dev/null -A “USER_AGENT_STRING” http://www.example.com`
- `curl -svo /dev/null -H “host: www.example.com” http://ORIGIN_IP`
- `curl -svo /dev/null -H https://www.example.com --resolve www.example.com:443:ORIGIN_IP`

### Using `mtr` and `traceroute`
{: #using-mtr-and-traceroute}

`mtr` and `traceroute` are Unix command line tools that let you measure performance or latency along a specific network path to a specified host or destination server.

For example:

- `mtr -rwc 20 example.com -T -4`
- `mtr -rwc 20 8.8.8.8 -T -6`
- `traceroute example.com -T -4`
- `traceroute 8.8.8.8 -T -6`

| Option | Definition |
|---------|-----------|
| -c | Sets the number of pings sent |
| -T | Forces a TCP traceroute (normally ICMP) |
| -4 | Forces the use of IPv4 |
| -6 | Forces the use of IPv6 |
{: caption="Command options" caption-side="bottom"}

### Generating an HAR file
{: #generating-a-har-file}

An HAR file is a recording of HTTP requests from a web browser. Browsers, such as Chrome, have a Developer Tools section that can help you get set up to make HAR files. For more information on how to create a HAR file, see [How do I generate a HAR file?](https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/cis?topic=cis-generate-har-files&format=markdown) in the troubleshooting section.