Where does Windows Vista & 7 connect to test network/internet connectivity?

1

I haven't a windows machine to run a sniffer on to figure this out myself, so I'm here.

When Vista or 7 connect, they then do something and report either no connectivity, local only, local network only or connected to internet. (paraphrased)

Where do they connect? Might it be a simple DNS request? or are they pinging Microsoft.com or such?

My friends won't give up their computers for a short bit while I test this... but that's ok, I do maintenance for them, so one'll be here in a few weeks... it is windows.

lornix

Posted 2010-11-05T19:21:58.090

Reputation: 9 633

Answers

3

It's a DNS request followed by an HTTP get of a text file, both from a Microsoft controlled domain.

Edit:

Effectively

"Network Connectivity Status Indicator"

RedGrittyBrick

Posted 2010-11-05T19:21:58.090

Reputation: 70 632

Any chance of obtaining those urls? – lornix – 2010-11-05T20:48:51.820

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee126135(WS.10).aspx – RedGrittyBrick – 2010-11-05T21:08:31.867

Asked: 2010-11-05T19:21:58.090

Viewed: 260 times

Active: 2010-11-05T21:09:45.970