How to use the command `nping` (with examples)
The nping command is a network packet generation tool and ping utility that allows users to send various types of network packets to a target host. It is a versatile tool that can be used for network troubleshooting, security testing, and network performance measurement purposes. This article will illustrate different use cases of the nping command.
Use case 1: Ping a specified host using ICMP if the user is allowed to, otherwise using TCP
Code:
nping example.com
Motivation: This use case is useful when you want to send a ping request to a specific host using the ICMP (Internet Control Message Protocol). If the user has the necessary privileges, it will use ICMP. Otherwise, it will use TCP.
Explanation:
nping: The command itself.example.com: The target host to ping.
Example output:
[NPING] Sending 1 packets to example.com (192.0.2.123)
Use case 2: Ping a specified host using ICMP assuming that the user is allowed to do so
Code:
nping --icmp --privileged example.com
Motivation: This use case is useful when you want to explicitly use ICMP to send ping requests to a specific host, assuming that the user has the necessary privileges.
Explanation:
nping: The command itself.--icmp: Specifies the use of ICMP for the ping request.--privileged: Requests elevated privileges to use ICMP.example.com: The target host to ping.
Example output:
[NPING] Sending 1 packets to example.com (192.0.2.123)
Use case 3: Ping a specified host using UDP
Code:
nping --udp example.com
Motivation: This use case is useful when you want to send a ping request to a specific host using the UDP (User Datagram Protocol).
Explanation:
nping: The command itself.--udp: Specifies the use of UDP for the ping request.example.com: The target host to ping.
Example output:
[NPING] Sending 1 packets to example.com (192.0.2.123)
Use case 4: Ping a specified host on a given port using TCP
Code:
nping --tcp --dest-port 443 example.com
Motivation: This use case is useful when you want to send a ping request to a specific host on a specific port using the TCP (Transmission Control Protocol).
Explanation:
nping: The command itself.--tcp: Specifies the use of TCP for the ping request.--dest-port 443: Specifies the destination port as 443.example.com: The target host to ping.
Example output:
[NPING] Sending 1 packets to example.com (192.0.2.123)
Use case 5: Ping a certain number of times
Code:
nping --count 10 example.com
Motivation: This use case is useful when you want to send a specific number of ping requests to a target host.
Explanation:
nping: The command itself.--count 10: Specifies the number of ping requests to send as 10.example.com: The target host to ping.
Example output:
[NPING] Sending 10 packets to example.com (192.0.2.123)
Use case 6: Wait a certain amount of time between each ping
Code:
nping --delay 5s example.com
Motivation: This use case is useful when you want to introduce a delay between each ping request sent to a target host.
Explanation:
nping: The command itself.--delay 5s: Specifies a delay of 5 seconds between each ping request.example.com: The target host to ping.
Example output:
[NPING] Sending 1 packets to example.com (192.0.2.123)
Waiting at least 5 seconds between each packet.
Use case 7: Send the request over a specified interface
Code:
nping --interface eth0 example.com
Motivation: This use case is useful when you want to specify the network interface to use for sending the ping request.
Explanation:
nping: The command itself.--interface eth0: Specifies the network interface to use as eth0.example.com: The target host to ping.
Example output:
[NPING] Sending 1 packets to example.com (192.0.2.123) using interface eth0
Use case 8: Set the Reserved/Evil bit in sent packets
Code:
nping --evil example.com
Motivation: This use case is useful when you want to set the Reserved/Evil bit in the sent packets. This can be used for testing network security protocols.
Explanation:
nping: The command itself.--evil: Sets the Reserved/Evil bit in the sent packets.example.com: The target host to ping.
Example output:
[NPING] Sending 1 packets to example.com (192.0.2.123)
Conclusion:
The nping command is a powerful tool for sending various types of network packets to a target host. It can be used for different purposes such as network troubleshooting, security testing, and network performance measurement. By understanding the different use cases and arguments of the nping command, you can effectively utilize it in your network-related tasks.
