How to test network connectivity

Updated September 2026 · Beginner-friendly guide

Overview

ping sends ICMP echo requests and reports replies. It helps distinguish a general network problem from a DNS name-resolution problem.

Examples

ping -c 4 1.1.1.1
ping -c 4 example.com
ping -W 2 -c 4 example.com

Read the results

time= reports round-trip latency in milliseconds
Packet loss reports the percentage of unanswered requests
“Temporary failure in name resolution” suggests a DNS issue
-c 4 stops after four requests
-W 2 limits reply wait time on common Linux versions

Tips

Without -c, Linux ping commonly runs until you press Ctrl+C. Some working hosts block ping, so failure alone does not prove a website is down.