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Pinging = ?

T

ToastCabbit

macrumors member
Original poster
Hope this topic goes in this category!

My question is: what exactly is "pinging" (as in to ping another computer or a website)? I see it referenced a lot, and I know it means to send a signal out to see if it can reach another location, but what does that tell you and what would be the occasion that that would be called for?

Thanks, all! 🙂
 
Pinging a website/computer just sends a packet requesting a reply. If you get that reply then you know that website/computer is accessible.

Pinging is most useful in troubleshooting situations. Like if you don't know if you can reach a computer or not.

But pinging only tests up to layer 3, to test all seven layers telnet is the best option.

scem0
 
Note also that when ping fails, it doesn't necessarily mean that the system you've pinged is not there or is off. Often, system admins disable ping, so those systems will always appear unavailable. It's like getting a phone call and not answering it, sort of.
 
BTW, ping is useful for more than just seeing if you can reach another system. It also tells you how long it takes to get the reply, among other things.
 
Ping times also tell you the speed of your host. Its the time, in milliseconds, that it akes for your packet to be sent, recieved and sent back. The faster the connection the lower your ping time.
 
you can try to ping sites or servers with the network utility in osx

applications - utilities - network utilities
 
you can also ping sites using Terminal by typing ping and then the IP address or url.

edit: spelling
 
you could also try trace route that tells you the places the data passed from your computer to the final destination; the number of hops affects the ping
 
Pinging is fun but there is nothing as fun as fingering someone. 😱 Unfortunately a lot of people don't like to be fingered anymore, ahh the times have they changed, so fingering someone isn't like it use to be.
OK. I will stop being a sick little monkey now. 😀
 
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