UnixReview.com has an article up on using telnet to test network services; if you aren’t nodding your head in recognition of what this is, you should read the article. It’s a basic and useful tool.
A running description of activity related to DragonFly BSD.
Haven’t read the article, but won’t netcat do the jobs?
nc rules! =)
Netcat will do it, but it’s not part of the base system. Telnet is ubiquitous.