To check if a port is open on VM
nc -z 192.168.1.2 80 Connection to 192.168.1.72 80 port [tcp/http] succeeded!
check if UDP port is open:
nc -z -u 192.168.1.51 53 Connection to 192.168.1.51 53 port [udp/domain] succeeded!
Send data between hosts:
Host 1 (192.168.1.222) set to listen mode:
nc -lp 1234
Host 2 send data to host 1
nc 192.168.1.222 1234 test 123
If the port (1234) is open the text (test 123) will be displayed in the console. This trick can be used a simple chat
The same can be used to send for example a log or a text file using this syntax:
nc 192.168.1.222 1234 < /var/log/vmkernel.log
this way content of that file will be displayed on Host 1 (if conditions specified above are met).