Last updated: 4/17/2000
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Basic Internet: Ping and TraceRt

The Internet utilities Ping and TraceRt (trace route) are the most basic Internet applications.

Ping gets its name from radar - send out a signal and bounce it back from a solid object. On the Internet, Ping sends out a packet to an IP address. Any computer at that IP sends the packet back. Typically, this is done four times, and the round trip time is reported.

TraceRt does the same thing, except that every IP device on the route to the destination also pings back, so you get a picture of the route with all servers and gateways.

Ping:

1. Click the Start button, then Programs, then Windows Explorer
2. Scroll down and click on the Windows folder in the left pane.
3. In the right pane, scroll over and double-click on command.com or the command link
4. An MS-DOS Prompt window will open up. Type (omit the quotes and <sp> means spacebar) "ping<sp>ftp.cll.wayne.edu" and tap <Enter>
5. Write down what appears on the screen.
6. When you are done, close the MS-DOS Prompt window by clicking on its close box.

If your computer cannot ping, or the remote computer does not reply, one or the other is not actually connected to the Internet, or is turned off, etc. This is the most basic test of Internet function, and so is a good diagnostic. "If ping ain't workin', ain't nothin' workin."

TraceRt:

To run tracert, follow steps 1 through 6 for Ping, except in step 4, type (omit the quotes and <sp> means spacebar) "tracert<sp> ftp.cll.wayne.edu."

Alternates:

Macomb says that its ISP [the State of Michigan] is so swamped that its Internet effectively crashes during times of high usage. If this happens, both Ping and TraceRt may time out going to ftp.cll.wayne.edu [my desktop computer on campus]. In this case, try merit-ags-plus.ouhub.moa.net.

MOANet is the Macomb/Oakland Area academic network, serving primarily Macomb Intermediate School District, Macomb Community College, Oakland Community College, Oakland Intermediate School District and Oakland University, with an Internet connection through Merit Network, serving all of Michigan. [FYI, WSU recently decided to add more modems to its Southeastern modem pool, and not to share them with Merit. This has improved Wayne's Internet service substantially.]

Note:

On most Windows computers, you should have an easier time getting to the MS-DOS Prompt window by simply clicking the Start button, then Programs, then selecting the MS-DOS Prompt icon.