If you need to check connectivity to a remote host over a given port then good old telnet is your first option since you can’t use ping over a specific port. However, if you’re running Vista you might be surprised to see that telnet is no longer one of the options. However, while it may not be obvious, telnet is still a part of Vista.

To install the Telnet Client go to Control Panel and select Programs and Features. Then on the Uninstall or change a program window click Turn windows features on or off. This will display the Windows Features dialog. Scroll through the list until you see Telnet Client. Check the box in front of Telnet Client and click OK. After a couple of minutes the text-based Telnet Client will be installed and ready to go.