The PING command is used to test the connection and latency between two network connections. The PING command sends packets of information to a specified IP Address and then measures the time it takes to get a response from the specified computer or device, so you can do things like check to make sure your domain is resolving to the same IP as your account is assigned to. To get your 'ping' on, choose your operating system below and let 'er rip.

Windows XP or Vista

1. Open the command window by clicking START, then RUN, then type CMD, and press the Enter key or click OK

2. Type 'ping' (without the quotes) in the Command Window and press the Space bar once

3. Type the IP or website address that you want to ping and press your Enter key
   
   If the website is up and actively responding, you receive replies back from the server that you pinged with the following information:

   * The IP address
   * The number of Bytes sent
   * The time it took in milliseconds
   * The TTL is Time to Live

LINUX

1. Open a TERMINAL window

2. Type 'ping' (without the quotes) in the command window and press your space bar once

3. Type the IP or website address that you want to ping and press your Enter key
   
   If the website is up and actively responding, you receive replies back from the server that you pinged with the following information:

   * The IP address
   * The number of Bytes sent
   * The time it took in milliseconds
   * The TTL is Time to Live
    

4. Press CTRL+C key combination to stop the command

MAC OSX

1. Navigate to your Applications folder, then Utilities, then Network Utility

2. Click the Ping tab and type a network address (IP or URL) in the first blank

3. Click the Ping button
   
   If the website is up and actively responding, you receive replies back from the server that you pinged with the following information:

   * The IP address
   * The number of Bytes sent
   * The time it took in milliseconds
   * The TTL is Time to Live
   ​

4. Press the Stop button to stop your results