Ping Loopback

• Ping commands are often directed toward a remote point (e.g., a web server) in order to tell if that location can be reached. However, if the card issuing the ping command is broken you may get false readings. Thankfully, your Internet Protocol (IP) offers the ability to ping your own computer by using an address called the "loopback." Simply issue the command "ping 127.0.0.1" and the response will tell you if your own network interface is responding.
  
  

Continuous Ping for Rebooting Device

• When troubleshooting a network or other device, you will often be required to reboot that device. Getting back into the configuration, however, is a tedious process. One useful way to continuously monitor the online status of the rebooted device is to issue a continuous ping. The "-t" parameter (i.e., ping --t [destination address]) will send continuous pings until CTRL (or COMMAND)-C has been pressed. You can then watch the ping responses after they change from "destination host cannot be reached" to "reply from..." When this occurs, you will know the device being pinged has come back online.
  
  

Change Source to Test Security Settings

• Network administrators often have to define very specific rules for which hosts can or cannot send packets to a destination. If you want to test to see if a rule is functioning properly but the computer you are using is disallowed by virtue of that rule, you can craft a ping request to appear as if it is coming from the allowed host. The "-S [address]" (the uppercase "S" is necessary in Windows) command allows you to specify a source address to spoof on the ping command. The device in question will believe that the ping is coming from the source address you have listed.
  
  

Show the Name Associated With an Address

• Oftentimes a ping command is issued to a somewhat faceless IP address. If you are curious to find out what domain name may be associated with the address, add the "-a" parameter. At the top, a full host name (if available) will be appended to the address.
  
  

Get a List of Options

• There are a lot of advanced aspects to the ping command, including the ability to change the size of its payload and the type of service. In Windows, these options can always be found by typing "ping -?" and pressing "enter."