How to Ping on a Mac Computer

Computers communicate via networks using a variety of protocols depending on the network and program in use. The most common low-level protocol is TCP/IP. This protocol is used on the Internet, in home networks and by corporations. The ping command works on almost all operating systems, including Windows, Mac and Linux/Unix/BSD variants. This command sends a simple signal to the IP address or domain name of another computer to see if there is a reply and how long it takes. Mac OS X includes two methods of running the ping command.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Mac OS X

1. Click on Finder in the dock. Click on "Utilities" in the Go menu.

2. Double-click on Network Utility. In the Network Utility window, click on the "Ping" tab.

3. Enter an IP address or domain name in the field provided. Change the number of pings or leave the default and click "Ping."

Tips & Warnings

• The Terminal app in the Utilities folder also lets you run the ping command on the command line just as you would in Linux or Windows.

• If you get timeouts, then you need to check your cabling. Calling your Internet Service Provider might also be of some help.

References

• Apple Support: Investigating Your Network Connections