Pinging a Host
Ping is a utility used to test if a remote host can be reached and to measure the round-trip time for packets sent from the switch to a destination device.
Ping operates by sending Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) echo request packets to the target host and waiting for an ICMP response, sometimes called a pong. It measures the round-trip time and records any packet loss.
To ping a host:
- Click Administration > Ping. The Ping page opens.
- Configure ping by entering the fields:
- Host Definition--Select whether to specify hosts by their IP address or name.
- IP Version--If the host is identified by its IP address, select either IPv4 or IPv6, to indicate that it will be entered in the selected format.
- IPv6 Address Type--Select Link Local or Global as the type of IPv6 address to enter.
- Link Local--The IPv6 address uniquely identifies hosts on a single network link. A link local address has a prefix of FE80, is not routable, and can be used for communication only on the local network. Only one link local address is supported. If a link local address exists on the interface, this entry replaces the address in the configuration.
- Global--The IPv6 address is a global Unicast IPV6 type that is visible and reachable from other networks.
- Link Local Interface--If the IPv6 address type is Link Local, select from where it is received.
- Host IP Address/Name--Address or host name of the device to be pinged. Whether this is an IP address or host name depends on the Host Definition.
- Ping Interval--Length of time the system waits between ping packets. Ping is repeated a “Number of Pings” number of times, whether it succeeds or not. Choose to use the default or specify your own value.
- Number of Pings--The number of times the ping operation will be performed. Choose to use the default or specify your own value.
- Status--Displays whether the ping succeeded or failed.
- Click Activate Ping to ping the host. The ping status is displayed and another message is added to the list of messages, indicating the result of the ping operation.
- View the results of ping in the Ping Counters and Status section of the page.