ping Command
The ping command is a fundamental network utility used to test the reachability of a host on an Internet Protocol (IP) network and to measure the round-trip time for messages sent from the originating host to a destination computer.
Syntax
Description
The ping command sends ICMP (Internet Control Message Protocol) echo request packets to the target host and listens for ICMP echo reply packets. It reports errors and packet loss, and provides a statistical summary of the results, including minimum, maximum, and average round-trip times.
Common uses include:
- Verifying network connectivity to a remote host.
- Measuring network latency (delay) between two hosts.
- Troubleshooting network problems.
- Checking if a server is up and responsive.
Common Options
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
-c count |
Stop after sending count ECHO_REQUEST packets. |
-i interval |
Wait interval seconds between sending each packet. |
-s packetsize |
Specify the number of data bytes to be sent. |
-t ttl |
Set the IP Time To Live. |
-W timeout |
Time to wait for a response, in seconds. |
-4 |
Use IPv4. |
-6 |
Use IPv6. |
Examples
Basic ping to a hostname
Pings google.com continuously until interrupted (Ctrl+C).
Ping with a specific count
Sends 5 ICMP echo requests to 192.168.1.1.
Ping with a custom packet size
Sends packets of 1000 bytes to example.com.
Ping with a timeout
Sends one packet to example.org and waits for a response for 2 seconds.
Ping IPv6 address
Pings the IPv6 address of ipv6.google.com.