File: inetutils.info,  Node: Fault isolation,  Next: Duplicate and damaged packets,  Prev: Ping options,  Up: ping invocation

7.2 Using ping for network fault isolation
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When using 'ping' for fault isolation, it should first be run on the
local host, to verify that the local network interface is up and
running.  Then, hosts and gateways further and further away should be
pinged.  Round-trip times and packet loss statistics are computed.  If
duplicate packets are received, they are not included in the packet loss
calculation, although the round trip time of these packets is used in
calculating the minimum/average/maximum round-trip time numbers.  When
the specified number of packets have been sent (and received) or if the
program is terminated with a 'SIGINT', a brief summary is displayed.

   This program 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.