Related

Configure Network Interfaces

linux

Display or configure network interface parameters.

Display Network Statistics

linux

Show network connections, routing tables, interface statistics, and listening ports.

Secure Shell Remote Login

linux

Securely connect to remote systems using encrypted communication.

linux/ping

Test Network Connectivity

Test the reachability of a network host and measure round-trip time for packets sent to it.

network
diagnostics
connectivity
icmp
linux

Command

ping

Explanation

The `ping` command is a basic network diagnostic tool used to check the reachability of a host on an IP network. It measures the round-trip time of packets sent from the source to a destination and back. Common options include `-c` to specify the number of pings, and `-i` to define the interval between packets.

Common Use Cases

  • •Check if a remote host is reachable
  • •Diagnose network latency issues
  • •Test connectivity between servers or devices

Best Practices

  • ✓Use `-c` to limit packet count in scripts
  • ✓Ping IP address first if DNS resolution is in doubt

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • ⚠Running without specifying a target host
  • ⚠Misinterpreting high latency as packet loss

Troubleshooting

Problem: No response from host

Solution: Ensure host is online and ICMP is not blocked by a firewall.

Problem: Name or service not known

Solution: Verify DNS resolution or use an IP address directly.

Examples

Test connection to Google

ping google.com

Send 4 ICMP echo requests to Google's DNS

ping -c 4 8.8.8.8

More

Secure Copy Files Between Hosts

linux

Securely copy files or directories between local and remote hosts over SSH.

List Directory Contents

linux

List files and directories in the current or specified directory with various formatting options.

Change Directory

linux

Change the current working directory to a specified path.