How to Install the ping Command on Ubuntu [Beginner’s Guide]

By 佐川 直弘 | Naohiro Sagawa (運営者)

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1. Reasons to Use the ping Command on Ubuntu

What is the ping Command?

The ping command is an essential tool used for network diagnostics and troubleshooting. This command sends ICMP (Internet Control Message Protocol) echo requests to a specific IP address or hostname to check if a response is received.

Simply put, it is the best command to check if “the network is functioning properly.”

Use Cases in an Ubuntu Environment

Linux distributions like Ubuntu are widely used by network administrators and engineers. The ping command is useful in the following situations:

• Checking network connectivity
  For example, you can quickly check whether you are connected to the internet by entering ping google.com.
• Measuring latency
  The ping command helps measure the time (in milliseconds) it takes for a packet to be sent and received. This is useful for assessing network speed and quality.
• Identifying network failures
  By verifying connectivity with other devices on a local network, you can identify potential network issues.

When You Need to Install the ping Command on Ubuntu

By default, the ping command is available in a standard Ubuntu installation. However, in minimal installations or Docker environments, the ping command may not be installed.

In such cases, you need to install the necessary package to enable the ping command. The detailed installation steps will be explained in the later sections.

Why the ping Command is Important

Despite its simplicity, the ping command is a powerful diagnostic tool. It is often the first step in resolving complex network issues and is particularly important for the following reasons:

• Quick identification of network problems
• Available by default without requiring additional tools
• Easy to understand, even for beginners

Effectively utilizing the ping command in an Ubuntu environment helps streamline network management and troubleshoot issues quickly.

2. Causes and Checks When the ping Command is Not Found

Why the ping Command Might Be Missing

If you cannot use the ping command on Ubuntu, it is often due to system settings or environmental differences. Below are some common reasons:

Missing Due to Minimal Installation

If you installed Ubuntu with the “Minimal Installation” option, some tools and utilities may be omitted. The ping command is included in the iputils-ping package, and if this package is not installed, the command will not be available.

Limitations in Docker and Container Environments

In Docker and other containerized environments, lightweight base images (e.g., Alpine Linux) are commonly used. These base images often do not include the ping command, so it must be installed separately.

Incorrect Environment Variable Settings

If the PATH environment variable is not set correctly, the system may not be able to locate the ping command, even if it is installed.

How to Check if the ping Command Exists

If the ping command is unavailable, follow these steps to diagnose the issue.

Command 1: which ping

Run the following command in the terminal:

which ping

This command tells you the location of the ping executable file. If it returns no output, the ping command is likely not installed.

Command 2: apt list iputils-ping

Check if iputils-ping is installed using Ubuntu’s package manager:

apt list iputils-ping

If the result does not show “[installed],” you need to install the package.

Command 3: Checking the Version

If the ping command is installed, you can check its version to verify that it is working correctly:

ping -V

If the correct version information appears, the installation is complete.

Example Troubleshooting Cases

Case 1: “command not found” Error

Error example:

ping: command not found

This error suggests that the ping command is not installed. Refer to the installation steps in the following sections.

Case 2: Permission Error

Error example:

ping: Operation not permitted

In this case, administrative privileges are required. Use sudo before executing the command.

3. Steps to Install the ping Command on Ubuntu

Step 1: Update the System

First, update the system packages to ensure a smooth installation.

1. Open the terminal.
2. Run the following command:

sudo apt update

This updates the package list to the latest version.

Step 2: Install the iputils-ping Package

To install the ping command, execute the following command:

1. Enter the following command:

sudo apt install iputils-ping

2. If prompted, enter your administrator (sudo) password.
3. Once the installation is complete, you will see a message like this:

Setting up iputils-ping (version number) ...

Now, the ping command is ready to use.

Step 3: Verify the Installation

To confirm that the installation was successful, run the following commands.

Example 1: Check the Location of ping

which ping

If the output shows something like this, the installation was successful:

/usr/bin/ping

Example 2: Check the Version of ping

ping -V

This command displays the installed version of the ping command.

4. Basic Usage and Options of the ping Command

Basic Usage

Check the Connection Status of a Host

You can use the following command to check the connection status to a specific host (e.g., google.com):

ping google.com

Executing this command will display information such as:

• Response time (e.g., 64 bytes from 142.250.74.46: icmp_seq=1 ttl=117 time=14.1 ms)
• Packet transmission and reception statistics

Using an IP Address Instead of a Hostname

You can specify an IP address instead of a hostname to check connectivity:

ping 8.8.8.8

This method is useful for diagnosing DNS-related issues.

Useful ping Command Options

Option 1: Specify the Number of Ping Requests (-c)

Use the -c option to send a specific number of ping requests:

ping -c 4 google.com

In this example, only 4 packets will be sent, which is useful when you don’t want to run an unlimited ping.

Option 2: Set the Interval Between Packets (-i)

Use the -i option to specify the interval between each ping request:

ping -i 2 google.com

This example sends packets every 2 seconds (the default interval is 1 second).

Option 3: Change the Packet Size (-s)

Use the -s option to specify the packet size:

ping -s 128 google.com

This example sends 128-byte packets, which can be useful for testing network capacity.

Option 4: Run in Verbose Mode (-v)

Use the -v option to get detailed log output:

ping -v google.com

This option helps in debugging errors and obtaining more detailed information.

Advanced Use Cases

Diagnosing a Local Network

To check the connection to other devices within a local network (e.g., routers or printers), use their IP addresses:

ping 192.168.1.1

This helps identify issues within your local network.

Measuring Packet Loss

The ping command can also measure packet loss (the percentage of sent packets that never reach their destination). Checking the packet loss value in the statistics output can help assess network stability.

How to Read the Results

When you run the ping command, it will display statistics like these:

1. Number of Packets Sent and Received

• Example: 4 packets transmitted, 4 received, 0% packet loss
• A 0% packet loss indicates a stable connection.

1. Round-Trip Time (RTT)

• Example: rtt min/avg/max/mdev = 14.1/14.2/14.3/0.1 ms
• A lower average RTT indicates a faster network response time.

5. Installing and Using the ping Command in a Docker Environment

When You Need the ping Command in Docker

Here are some common scenarios where the ping command is useful in Docker:

1. Checking network connectivity
   Verify communication between containers or between a container and the host machine.
2. Troubleshooting network issues
   Diagnose connectivity problems within container networks.
3. Testing custom network configurations
   Validate settings in Docker Compose or custom bridge networks.

Installing the ping Command Inside a Docker Container

Step 1: Access the Container

To access an existing container, run:

docker exec -it <container_name> /bin/bash

For example, if your container name is my_container:

docker exec -it my_container /bin/bash

Step 2: Install the Required Package

1. If using an Ubuntu-based image:

apt update
apt install -y iputils-ping

2. If using an Alpine Linux-based image:

apk add --no-cache iputils

Step 3: Verify the Installation

To check if the installation was successful, run:

ping -V

Adding ping to a Dockerfile

For Ubuntu-based Images

Create a Dockerfile with the following content:

FROM ubuntu:latest

RUN apt update && apt install -y iputils-ping
CMD ["/bin/bash"]

For Alpine Linux-based Images

FROM alpine:latest

RUN apk add --no-cache iputils
CMD ["/bin/sh"]

After saving the Dockerfile, build the new image:

docker build -t my_image .

You can now start a new container from this image, and the ping command will be available.

7. Conclusion: Start Network Diagnostics with the ping Command on Ubuntu

Key Takeaways

Here are the key points covered in this article:

1. Basic Usage of ping
   The ping command is an essential tool for checking network connectivity and is widely used in Ubuntu environments.
2. Installation Steps
   If the ping command is missing, installing the iputils-ping package solves the issue. We also covered how to install it in a Docker container.
3. Command Options
   We explained useful options such as -c (limit requests), -i (set intervals), and -s (change packet size).
4. Troubleshooting
   Common issues such as permission errors, firewall settings, and DNS problems were addressed.

Final Thoughts

By understanding and using the ping command effectively, you can improve network diagnostics and troubleshooting. Try experimenting with different options and use cases to gain a deeper understanding.