Ping

ping is a software utility used to test the reach-ability of hosts. It is available for virtually all operating systems, including most embedded network administration software.

Ping measures the round-trip time for messages sent from the originating host to a destination computer that are echoed back to the source. The name comes from active sonar terminology that sends a pulse of sound and listens for the echo to detect objects under water. The program reports errors, packet loss, and a summary of the results, typically with the minimum, maximum, the mean round-trip times.

Ping Test Instructions

Open Command Prompt

Open a command prompt, or terminal, on your system where you can run the tests. Typically, this is a window with a black background where you can type commands and see the results.

If using Windows, hold the windows key and press r to open the "run" window, then type cmd and press Enter to open a command prompt.

On Mac, click the Launchpad icon in the Dock, type terminal in the search field, then click Terminal.

On Linux, open the launcher menu and type terminal to find a terminal program and open it.

Run Ping Test

To run a ping test, type the word ping followed by a space, then an address to try pinging. For example, enter ping ncf.ca to check if you can reach the NCF website.