The ping command is a network utility used to test connectivity between two devices on a network. It uses the Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) to send packets to a target host and waits for a response. By doing so, it measures the time it takes for the packets to make a round trip, helping users diagnose network issues like latency or connectivity problems.

Initiation: The ping command sends an ICMP Echo Request packet to the target IP address or hostname.

Echo Reply: If the target device is online and reachable, it responds with an ICMP Echo Reply packet.

Time Measurement: The time it takes for the Echo Reply to return to the sender is recorded.

Statistics: The ping command provides statistics such as the number of packets sent, received, lost, and the round-trip time.

PING google.com (142.250.187.206): 56 data bytes

64 bytes from 142.250.187.206: icmp_seq=0 ttl=115 time=20.234 ms

64 bytes from 142.250.187.206: icmp_seq=1 ttl=115 time=19.487 ms

64 bytes from 142.250.187.206: icmp_seq=2 ttl=115 time=19.621 ms

3 packets transmitted, 3 packets received, 0.0% packet loss

round-trip min/avg/max/stddev = 19.487/19.781/20.234/0.314 ms

TTL (Time To Live): Indicates how many hops a packet can take before being discarded.

RTT (Round-Trip Time): The time it takes for a packet to travel to the target and back.

The 3-way handshake is a process used in the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) to establish a reliable connection between a client and a server. It ensures both parties are ready to communicate and agree on initial parameters.

SYN (Synchronize):The client sends a TCP SYN packet to the server, indicating it wants to start a connection.
This packet contains the client’s initial sequence number (ISN).


SYN-ACK (Synchronize-Acknowledge):The server responds with a SYN-ACK packet.
This packet contains the server’s ISN and an acknowledgment (ACK) of the client’s ISN.


ACK (Acknowledge):The client sends an ACK packet back to the server, acknowledging the server’s ISN.
At this point, the connection is established, and data transfer can begin.


SYN Packet:Source: Client
Destination: Server
Flags: SYN


SYN-ACK Packet:Source: Server
Destination: Client
Flags: SYN, ACK


ACK Packet:Source: Client
Destination: Server
Flags: ACK


Ensures both devices are ready to communicate.

Prevents data loss during the initial connection.

Synchronizes sequence numbers for reliable data transfer.

By understanding these fundamental concepts, you can better diagnose network issues and appreciate the mechanisms ensuring reliable communication in modern networks.

Discover how the Ping command verifies connectivity and explore the 3-way handshake powering TCP communication. Simple, clear, and essential for your tech toolkit.

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