How to Use the Rasdiag.exe Support Tool in Windows XP (309553)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
  • Microsoft Windows XP Professional
This article was previously published under Q309553

SUMMARY

The Remote Access Service Diagnostics Tool (Rasdiag.exe) collects diagnostic information about remote services and places that information in a file. Administrators can use this tool to work with Microsoft Product Support Services to troubleshoot remote connection issues by taking a snapshot of the configuration data and capturing an attempted remote connection.

This tool is not documented in the Help file for Support Tools (Suptools.chm).

MORE INFORMATION

To start Rasdiag, click Start, click Run, type cmd, and then press ENTER. At the command prompt, type rasdiag.exe, and then press ENTER. Rasdiag.exe uses the following command-line switches.
ParameterDescription
-r (ipaddr)Enable remote sniff.
-tEnable remote routing table collection (requires -r).
(Filename.rdg)Extract Rasdiag file (for example: rasdiag.exe sample.rdg).
/?Display Help.
-?Display Help.
When you run Rasdiag, you see the following information: 

Preparing WindowsXP for RAS diagnostics.

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RASDIAG - RAS Diagnostic/Troubleshooting Tool
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INSTRUCTIONS

1) At this time, please reproduce the problem you are seeing.
2) Once the problem has been reproduced, please return to this console
   and press the space bar.
3) Wait for diagnostics and data collection process to complete. This
   process will be complete the RASDIAG folder has opened on your
   desktop. In this folder, you will find an .RDG file.
4) Please provide this .RDG file to your support contact.

NOTE: The netmon driver is actively capturing on this machine's
      WAN and LAN interfaces. If you are able to successfully make a
      connection, and the problem you are seeing is related to network-layer
      connectivity, please perform the data-related action at this time
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


STATUS: Waiting for you to REPRO and press the space bar in this console

After this is displayed, reproduce the issue you want to capture information about (for example, start a dial-up connection and log on to a server). After the action is completed, make the command prompt window the active window and press SPACEBAR. Pressing SPACEBAR causes Rasdiag to stop capturing information and write it to a compressed file with a .rdg extension. The name of the file is the date and time it was created. You can then send this file to your support contact.

This file contains a Network Monitor capture (.cap) and Rasdiag.txt file. To extract the files, type rasdiag filename.rdg. The contents of the compressed file are extracted in the same folder.

NOTE: You must have the Network Monitor tool to view network capture (.cap) files. Network Monitor is included with Microsoft Windows 2000 Server and Microsoft Systems Management Server. It is not included with Windows XP Professional or Windows XP Home Edition.
Rasdiag.exe is a support tool that you can install from the Windows XP CD-ROM. For additional information about installing these tools, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

306794 How to Install the Support Tools from the Windows XP CD-ROM

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:8/6/2002
Keywords:kbhowto kbnetwork KB309553
©2002 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.