Word of the Day: ping strangeness

Word of the Day Daily updates on the latest technology terms |September 29, 2017

ping strangeness Ping strangeness is a term used in troubleshooting to describe the incidence of an unusual pattern of ICMP ECHO_REQUEST packets being sent to a specific network node or an unusual number of error messages returning. Ping (Packet Internet Groper) is a utility program that allows a user or program to verify that a particular IP address exists and can accept requests. Ping can be used as an alternative to the traceroute utility to troubleshoot network connectivity and latency issues. It is faster than traceroute and generates less network traffic.   When a user issues a ping request, the program formats an ICMP ECHO_REQUEST packet and sends it to a designated target address. If the remote IP address is active, it responds with an ICMP ECHO_REPLY packet. Ping then uses the timestamp of the Echo Reply to calculate a round-trip time and gauge response time.   If the target address is unavailable or something else is not working normally, Ping will report an error. Common errors include Destination Unreachable, Unknown Host and Request Timed Out.   When there is an unusual pattern of ICMP ECHO_REPLY packets being sent to the same server in the same time period, or there is an unusual number of error messages, this "strange" pattern is worth investigating. It could be that Ping is being used to carry out a denial of service attack (DoS) or look for attack vectors. Quote of the Day "While most every network professional has learned how to use traceroute, many may not understand its true power as one of the most vital network troubleshooting tools." - Michael Gregg   Trending Terms ping troubleshooting traceroute time-to-live ICMP   Learning Center How to use traceroute to troubleshoot network problems See how to use traceroute to detect potential redirects of traffic. How can I troubleshoot AWS connectivity problems? When AWS connectivity becomes faulty, businesses can use ping and other utilities to determine the problem. It's important to also check AWS availability. Network fault management in today's complex data centers Network fault management takes new forms as new technologies and designs change the face of today's modern networks. Here's what you need to know to identify and troubleshoot faults in network designs and technologies. Troubleshooting network issues in an era of reduced visibility Troubleshooting network issues is never easy, particularly as networks become more distributed. But help is on the way. Planning for enterprise network testing Enterprise network testing is about achieving a deeper understanding of an organization's network to provide service and quality for end users. Quiz Yourself An _______ provides controlled access to authorized customers, vendors and partners outside the company. a. Extranet b. Intranet Answer   Stay In Touch For feedback about any of our definitions or to suggest a new definition, please contact me at: mrouse@techtarget.com   Visit the Word of the Day Archives and catch up on what you've missed!   FOLLOW US About This E-Newsletter This e-newsletter is published by the TechTarget network. To unsubscribe from Whatis.com, click here. Please note, this will not affect any other subscriptions you have signed up for. TechTarget, Whatis, 275 Grove Street, Newton, MA 02466. Contact: webmaster@techtarget.com Copyright 2016 TechTarget. All rights reserved.