ping

ping is a computer network tool used to test whether a particular host is reachable across an IP network; it is also used to self test the network interface card of the computer, or as a latency test. It works by sending ICMP “echo request” packets to the target host and listening for ICMP “echo response” replies. Ping measures the round-trip time[1] and records any packet loss, and prints when finished a statistical summary of the echo response packets received, the minimum, mean, max and in some versions the standard deviation of the round trip time.

The word ping is also frequently used as a noun or verb, where it is used to refer to the round-trip time, or measuring the round-trip time.[citation needed]

The tool is also used in a type of simple denial-of-service attack, known as a ping flood, in which the attacker overwhelms the victim with ICMP echo request packets.

in reference to:

"ping is a computer network tool used to test whether a particular host is reachable across an IP network; it is also used to self test the network interface card of the computer, or as a latency test. It works by sending ICMP “echo request” packets to the target host and listening for ICMP “echo response” replies. Ping measures the round-trip time[1] and records any packet loss, and prints when finished a statistical summary of the echo response packets received, the minimum, mean, max and in some versions the standard deviation of the round trip time.
The word ping is also frequently used as a noun or verb, where it is used to refer to the round-trip time, or measuring the round-trip time.[citation needed]
The tool is also used in a type of simple denial-of-service attack, known as a ping flood, in which the attacker overwhelms the victim with ICMP echo request packets."
- ping - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (view on Google Sidewiki)