TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) is one of the core protocols of the internet. It provides reliable, ordered communication between two applications—like a browser connecting to a website, an email client connecting to a mail server, or an app connecting to a database. Many services “live” on specific TCP ports (for example, web servers on 80/443), so checking TCP connectivity is a simple way to confirm a service is reachable at the network level.
TCP monitoring with IPNetwork Monitor. IPNetwork Monitor includes a basic TCP monitor that checks whether a connection to a specified IP address/hostname and port can be established. It’s like automated “telnet to a port” testing—useful when you need to ensure important ports are reachable and respond within a reasonable time. TCP monitors are fast and easy to set up (host + port), making them a great early-warning tool for web servers, mail servers, database listeners, and firewall/NAT verification. They’re also commonly used as dependencies for heavier checks: if TCP port 80 or 443 isn’t reachable, there’s no point running a full HTTP/HTTPS content validation or a Web Transaction test. By combining TCP monitors with more advanced monitors, you get both quick detection and deeper diagnostics.
