How to use the Ping command

Ping is a command which tells you if the connection between your computer and a particular domain or server is working correctly.

Using ping in Windows

Select Start > Programs > Accessories > Command Prompt
Enter the word ping, followed by a space, then the domain name or IP address, eg. ping netregistry.com.au

Using ping in Mac

Click Launchpad on the taskbar
From the list of applications that appear, choose Other
Open Terminal
Enter the word ping, followed by a space, then the domain name or IP address, eg. ping netregistry.com.au

Using ping in Linux

Open a Terminal window (if using a GUI)
Enter the word ping, followed by a space, then the domain name or IP address, eg. ping netregistry.com.au

If the results shows a series of replies, the connection is working.

Interpreting the response of the ping

The time shows you how fast the connection is. If you see a "timed out" error instead of a reply then there is a breakdown somewhere between your computer and the destination host, use the "traceroute" command to determine which location is failing to respond.

Using traceroute to troubleshoot DNS problems

See the following online resource for a detailed explanation of how to use and interpret the traceroute command: http://www.mediacollege.com/internet/troubleshooter/traceroute.html