Ping is a critical tool when it comes to network troubleshooting on Linux operating systems. The ping command allows you to check the connectivity status between your host and a target machine, which could be another computer, server or any device on a network. This diagnostic tool sends ICMP (Internet Control Message Protocol) ECHO_REQUEST packets to the target host and listens for ECHO_RESPONSE returns, giving insight into the health and speed of the connection.
ping <target IP or hostname>
If there is any issue reaching the target host, ping can identify this and provide feedback, making it an essential component in troubleshooting network issues. In many cases, it is the first tool a Linux user will turn to when diagnosing network connectivity problems.