How to use the command `ping6` (with examples)

The ping6 command is used to send ICMP ECHO_REQUEST packets to network hosts via IPv6 address. It is similar to the ping command, but specifically designed for IPv6 addressing. This command is useful for checking the connectivity and response time of a remote host or network.

Use case 1: Ping a host

Code:

ping6 host

Motivation:

Pinging a host allows you to check if a remote host is reachable and responsive. It is a basic and widely-used network troubleshooting tool.

Explanation:

• host: This argument represents the hostname or IPv6 address of the target host.

Example output:

PING host (2001:db8::1) 56 data bytes
64 bytes from host (2001:db8::1): icmp_seq=1 ttl=64 time=0.056 ms
64 bytes from host (2001:db8::1): icmp_seq=2 ttl=64 time=0.064 ms

In the example output, the ping6 command successfully sent ICMP ECHO_REQUEST packets to the host and received responses in return. The response includes information such as the number of bytes sent and received, the sequence number, TTL (Time-to-Live), and response time.

Use case 2: Ping a host only a specific number of times

Code:

ping6 -c count host

Motivation:

By specifying the number of times to ping a host, you can limit the duration and the number of packets sent when testing connectivity. This is particularly useful when you only need a certain number of responses for analysis or monitoring.

Explanation:

• -c count: This flag specifies the number of ICMP ECHO_REQUEST packets to send to the host.

Example output:

PING host (2001:db8::1) 56 data bytes
64 bytes from host (2001:db8::1): icmp_seq=1 ttl=64 time=0.056 ms
64 bytes from host (2001:db8::1): icmp_seq=2 ttl=64 time=0.064 ms

--- host ping statistics ---
2 packets transmitted, 2 packets received, 0.0% packet loss

In the example output, the ping6 command sent and received two ICMP ECHO_REQUEST packets to the host.

Use case 3: Ping a host, specifying the interval in seconds between requests

Code:

ping6 -i seconds host

Motivation:

Changing the interval time between requests allows the user to control the pace at which ICMP ECHO_REQUEST packets are sent to a host. This can be useful when you want to adjust the frequency of pings or when you need to conform to network traffic requirements.

Explanation:

• -i seconds: This flag specifies the interval time in seconds between sending each ICMP ECHO_REQUEST packet.

Example output:

PING host (2001:db8::1) 56 data bytes
64 bytes from host (2001:db8::1): icmp_seq=1 ttl=64 time=0.056 ms
64 bytes from host (2001:db8::1): icmp_seq=2 ttl=64 time=0.064 ms

--- host ping statistics ---
2 packets transmitted, 2 packets received, 0.0% packet loss

In the example output, the ping6 command sent ICMP ECHO_REQUEST packets to the host at an interval of 1 second.

Use case 4: Ping a host without trying to lookup symbolic names for addresses

Code:

ping6 -n host

Motivation:

By disabling the lookup of symbolic names for addresses, you can reduce the time it takes to resolve the hostname to its corresponding IPv6 address. This can be beneficial when you want to prioritize speed in your network troubleshooting.

Explanation:

• -n: This flag prevents the ping6 command from attempting to resolve symbolic names for addresses.

Example output:

PING host (2001:db8::1) 56 data bytes
64 bytes from 2001:db8::1: icmp_seq=1 ttl=64 time=0.056 ms
64 bytes from 2001:db8::1: icmp_seq=2 ttl=64 time=0.064 ms

--- host ping statistics ---
2 packets transmitted, 2 packets received, 0.0% packet loss

In the example output, since the -n flag is used, the hostname is not resolved to a symbolic name, and the IPv6 address is directly displayed.

Use case 5: Ping a host and ring the bell when a packet is received

Code:

ping6 -a host

Motivation:

Some terminals support an audible bell, which can be useful when you want to be notified audibly every time a ping request receives a response. This can be beneficial in situations where you’re waiting for a specific response and you’re not solely relying on visual cues.

Explanation:

• -a: This flag tells the ping6 command to ring the bell when a packet is received.

Example output:

PING host (2001:db8::1) 56 data bytes
64 bytes from host (2001:db8::1): icmp_seq=1 ttl=64 time=0.056 ms
64 bytes from host (2001:db8::1): icmp_seq=2 ttl=64 time=0.064 ms
^G

--- host ping statistics ---
2 packets transmitted, 2 packets received, 0.0% packet loss

In the example output, after receiving the ICMP ECHO_RESPONSE packets, the ping6 command produced an audible bell sound to notify the user.

Conclusion:

The ping6 command is a powerful tool for testing network connectivity and response time using IPv6 addresses. By understanding the various arguments and flags provided, you can customize the behavior of the command based on your specific needs. Whether you are troubleshooting network issues or monitoring network performance, ping6 can provide valuable insights into the reachability and responsiveness of remote hosts.