How to Check Internet Connectivity using CMD

In CMD (Command Prompt), the ping command is used to test the internet connectivity or short distance connectivity between two devices on a network. The ping command sends a small packet of data to a destination IP address and waits for a response. The response time and success or failure of the ping can help diagnose network connectivity issues. The syntax for the ping command is as follows:

ping [-t] [-a] [-n count] [-l size] [-f] [-i TTL] [-v TOS] [-r count] [-s count] [-w timeout] target_name

Where:

• -t: Sends a continuous ping until stopped by pressing Ctrl+C.
• -a: Resolves IP addresses to host names.
• -n count: Specifies the number of ping packets to send.
• -l size: Specifies the size of the ping packet in bytes.
• -f: Sets the "Do not fragment" flag in the ping packet.
• -i TTL: Sets the Time-to-Live (TTL) value in the ping packet.
• -v TOS: Sets the Type-of-Service (TOS) value in the ping packet.
• -r count: Records the route of the ping packet and displays the number of hops.
• -s count: Sets the timestamp in the ping packet to count.
• -w timeout: Specifies the timeout in milliseconds for each ping packet.
• target_name: Specifies the IP address or host name of the destination device.

Here are some examples of how to use the ping command:

1. To ping a device on the network by its IP address, type: ping 192.168.31.1

2. To ping a device on the network by its host name, google, for example, type: ping www.google.com

3. To specify the size of the ping packet, type: ping -l 1000 www.google.com

Note that some networks and devices may block or ignore ping packets, which can cause incomplete or inaccurate results. Additionally, some options with the ping command may require administrative privileges.