Linux in a Nutshell, Fourth Edition

Name

ping

Synopsis

                  ping [options] host
               

System administration command. Confirm that a remote host is online and responding. ping is intended for use in network testing, measurement, and management. Because of the load it can impose on the network, it is unwise to use ping during normal operations or from automated scripts.

Options

-a

Make ping audible. Beep each time response is received.

-b

Ping a broadcast address.

-c count

Stop after sending (and receiving) count ECHO_RESPONSE packets.

-d

Set SO_DEBUG option on socket being used.

-f

Flood ping-output packets as fast as they come back or 100 times per second, whichever is more. This can be very hard on a network and should be used with caution. Only a privileged user may use this option.

-i wait

Wait wait seconds between sending each packet. Default is to wait 1 second between each packet. This option is incompatible with the -f option.

-l preload

Send preload number of packets as fast as possible before falling into normal mode of behavior.

-n

Numeric output only. No attempt will be made to look up symbolic names for host addresses.

-p digits

Specify up to 16 pad bytes to fill out packet sent. This is useful for diagnosing data-dependent problems in a network. digits are in hex. For example, -p ff will cause the sent packet to be filled with all 1s.

-q

Quiet output--nothing is displayed except the summary lines at startup time and when finished.

-r

Bypass the normal routing tables and send directly to a host on an attached network. ...