Which Windows command-line utility would you use to test connectivity to a host by sending ICMP echo requests?

Which Windows command-line utility would you use to test connectivity to a host by sending ICMP echo requests?

• A. Ipconfig
• B. Tracert
• C. Nslookup
• D. Ping

Answer: (D)

Testing connectivity to a host using ICMP echo requests is what the Ping command is for. Ping sends an ICMP Echo Request to the target and waits for an ICMP Echo Reply, so you can quickly verify that the host is reachable and measure the round-trip time to gauge latency. It’s the simplest, most direct way to confirm basic reachability and observe any packet loss or delays. Other utilities serve different purposes: Ipconfig shows and configures your network interfaces, tracert reveals the route and delays along the path by increasing TTL, and nslookup resolves domain names to IP addresses. If ping doesn’t get a reply, it could indicate the host is down or that ICMP traffic is blocked by a firewall, helping you diagnose where the connectivity issue might lie.

Testing connectivity to a host using ICMP echo requests is what the Ping command is for. Ping sends an ICMP Echo Request to the target and waits for an ICMP Echo Reply, so you can quickly verify that the host is reachable and measure the round-trip time to gauge latency. It’s the simplest, most direct way to confirm basic reachability and observe any packet loss or delays. Other utilities serve different purposes: Ipconfig shows and configures your network interfaces, tracert reveals the route and delays along the path by increasing TTL, and nslookup resolves domain names to IP addresses. If ping doesn’t get a reply, it could indicate the host is down or that ICMP traffic is blocked by a firewall, helping you diagnose where the connectivity issue might lie.