How to Use Ping to Test Network Connection

Ping is one of those commands that gets a lot of attention because it is encountered often. It can also get a lot of unwanted attention when less than savvy network administrators try to run it from automated scripts or during regular working hours. Ping can create a major strain on a network, which is why it is best left to the pros and for off-hour usage.

Use Ping to Test Network Connection

Step1 Make ping a feature that you can hear. If you want a notification, you can set it to make a noise whenever a response is received. You do this with '-a'.

Step2 Usa '-A' to sync the rate at which information is sent and received. This option is meant to balance the rate at which packets are broadcast and received so that even an average user can use this feature.

Step3 Use '-b' for broadcast address.

Step4 Use '-c' to stop ping when you are done sending information.

Step5 Use '-i' to instruct ping how long to wait between sending packets. You can specify whatever interval you like, and the default is set to 1 second between packets.

Step6 Use '-f' to send packets at very high rates, as high as 100 per second. Typically, only administrative users have the ability to use this feature. Because of the strain it places on a network, this is one of those features that is best left for after-hours work by a privileged administrator.

Step7 Use '-I' to name the IP address source.

Step8 Send a large number of packets first before having the system scale back to normal mode by using the preload function '-l'. It's top heavy, but it can get things off to a quick start.

Step9 Use '-V' to create a print version of the ping report. After printing, '-V' will exit the program.

Step10 Set the system to exit ping after a preset number of seconds with '-w'. You will need to enter the number of seconds under n.

Step11 Tell the system to time out after a certain amount of time when it is waiting for a response with '-W'. This is usually specified in seconds n.

Step12 Order the fifth edition of the manual for Linux command online from O'Reilly (see Resources below).