<networking, tool> (PING) A program used to test reachability of destinations by sending them one, or repeated, ICMP echo requests and waiting for replies. Since ping works at the IP level its server-side is often implemented entirely within the OS kernel and is thus pretty much the lowest level test of whether a remote host is alive. Ping will often respond even when higher level, TCP-based services cannot.
The term is also used as a verb: "Ping host X to see if it is up."
See also traceroute, spray.
(07 Jan 1997)