A field guide to the connected worldThree protocols · One curious operator
PingMeNow.

The art of getting an answer

An inquiry into distant machines

Are you there,
old friend?

Across wires, oceans, and the occasional questionable router: a little request goes out. With any luck, an answer comes home.

Choose your instrument ↓
A vintage telegraph connecting two distant stations
Fig. 01 — The timeless business
of sending a signal & awaiting a reply.

The instruments

I. / THE SIMPLE QUESTION

ICMP Echo

A polite knock upon the network’s door. Ask whether a host answers, and measure the round trip.

Consult the ICMP guide ↗
II. / THE FORMAL CALL

HTTPS Request

A proper introduction, with encryption. See whether a web endpoint has something to say.

Consult the HTTPS guide ↗
III. / THE HANDSHAKE

TCP Connect

Pick a port and try the handle. Find out whether a service is accepting connections.

Consult the TCP guide ↗
A note from the operator.

This is a static field guide, not a live probe console. Run the example commands on your own machine against hosts you own or have permission to test. No measurements are made by this page.