Which utility is commonly used as a starting point for troubleshooting TCP/IP network problems?

The utility that is commonly used as a starting point for troubleshooting TCP/IP network problems is ipconfig. This command-line tool is particularly useful in Windows operating systems for displaying and managing the IP configurations of the network interfaces on a computer. By using ipconfig, a technician can quickly ascertain essential information such as the device's IP address, subnet mask, and default gateway.

This information is crucial for diagnosing issues related to connectivity, such as whether the device is receiving a proper IP address from the DHCP server. If the device has an IP that falls into a private range or is set to a loopback address, it indicates potential problems with network connectivity that need to be addressed.

While other utilities like Ping, Fortinet, and Netstat are also valuable in network troubleshooting, they serve specific functions. Ping is primarily used for checking if a remote host is reachable, which is a subsequent step after verifying local configurations. Fortinet refers to a range of security products rather than a troubleshooting tool, and Netstat provides information about current network connections and protocol statistics, making it useful for monitoring but not as a starting point for configuration issues.