Basic network performance

In this section, you will get acquainted with the use of the tools that will help in assessing basic network performance.

The ping command

In the Verifying and monitoring solutions section of this chapter, the definition for the ping command is given. Therefore, besides that, it is useful to know that the ping command relies on Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) Echo messages to determine the following:

• Is the remote host active or inactive?
• Are there time delays in communicating with the host?
• Is there packet loss in communicating with the host?

As an analogy, the ping command works a man is in a valley and is calling his friend. The voice reflected by the valley's mountains enables...