Pingetests

Pingetests are a basic method for assessing the reachability and performance of a network path between a source host and one or more destination hosts. They typically use the Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) by sending echo request messages and waiting for echo replies. The resulting measurements usually include the round-trip time (RTT) for replies, the proportion of packets that do not reply (packet loss), and, in some tools, the variability of latency (jitter).

During a test, a host can perform a single probe or run a series of probes at regular intervals. Tests may target a single host or be extended to multiple destinations in a ping sweep. Continuous ping tests can run over minutes or hours to monitor changes in connectivity. Many operating systems provide a built-in ping utility with options to set count, interval, packet size, and time-to-live (TTL).

Uses include basic troubleshooting of network outages, initial assessment of new links, monitoring service availability, and verification of latency against service level agreements. Ping data is often combined with other measurements, such as traceroute or bandwidth tests, to diagnose path issues.

Limitations include that ICMP traffic is frequently deprioritized or blocked by firewalls, routers, or rate-limiting devices, which can bias results. A high latency or no reply does not always reflect end-to-end user experience. For a complete picture, ping tests should be used alongside TCP-based measurements and path diagnostics.

Ping, the original utility that popularized the concept, was developed in 1983 by Mike Muuss. The term "ping" has since become a generic description for reachability tests in networking.