Acronym formed from packet internet groper. A TCP/IP command used to test for network connectivity by transmitting a special ICMP (Internet Control Message Protocol) diagnostic packet to a specific node on the network, forcing the node to acknowledge that the packet reached the correct destination. If the node responds, the link is operational; if not, something is wrong. The word ping is often used as a verb, as in "ping that workstation to see if it's alive."
Ping is designed for network testing, troubleshooting, and measurement, and because of the large load it can impose on a busy, working network, it should not be used during normal operations, unless the system administrator is tracing a specific problem on the network.