Multiple ping management
View Patent ↗A method of testing connectivity of networks includes pinging multiple devices on the network upon a single command. The devices to be pinged are pre-arranged in one or more catalogs (lists) and stored in the memory of a connectivity test instrument. A ping catalog is selected, and each device in the list automatically is pinged three times from a single ping command. Data from the network devices is parsed, stored and formatted for display to a user.
1. A method of testing connectivity of networks, comprising the steps of:
(a) storing within a connectivity test instrument one or more ping catalogs, each ping catalog defining a plurality of predetermined network devices on at least one specific network;
(b) automatically pinging, with more than one echo message, each of said plurality of predetermined network devices in a selected ping catalog upon a single command to said test instrument;
(c) receiving data packets that may return from each of said plurality of predetermined network devices, said data packets containing status and ping results of each predetermined network device wherein a MAC address is acquired for each device returning a data packet whereby a packet transmit is incremented and stored; and
(d) displaying the status and ping results of each predetermined network device.
2. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said ping of each of said plurality or predetermined network devices comprises sending three echo message to each device.
3. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said pinging of devices in the selected ping catalog is performed in an iterative manner.
4. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein at least one of said one or more ping catalogs are custom created by a user.
5. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein at least one of said one or more ping catalogs are downloaded from a PC.
6. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein one of said ping catalogs are downloaded.
7. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said displaying status comprises displaying one of a representation that a test is still running or that a test has been completed.
8. A method in accordance with claim 7 wherein said displaying that a test has been completed comprises optionally indicating an error status.
9. A method in accordance with claim 8 , wherein indicating an error status comprises displaying a representation indicating a number of errors that have occurred.
10. A method of testing connectivity of networks, comprising the steps of:
(a) storing within a connectivity test instrument plural ping catalogs, each ping catalog defining a plurality of predetermined network devices on at least one specific network;
(b) selecting one of said plural ping catalogs;
(c) automatically pinging, with more than one echo message, each of said plurality of predetermined network devices in said selected ping catalog upon a single command to said test instrument;
(d) receiving data packets that may return from each of said plurality of predetermined network devices, said data packets containing status and ping results of each predetermined network device wherein a MAC address is acquired for each device returning a data packet whereby a packet transmit is incremented and stored; and
(e) displaying the status and ping results of each predetermined network device.
11. A method in accordance with claim 10 wherein said ping of each of said plurality of predetermined network devices comprises sending three echo messages to each device.
12. A method in accordance with claim 10 wherein said pinging of devices in the selected ping catalog is performed in an iterative manner.
13. A method in accordance with claim 10 wherein one of said ping catalogs are custom created by a user.
14. A method in accordance with claim 10 wherein one of said ping catalogs are downloaded.
15. A method in accordance with claim 10 wherein said displaying status comprises displaying one of a representation that a test is still running or that a test has been completed.
16. A method in accordance with claim 15 wherein said displaying that a test has been completed comprises optionally indicating an error status.
17. A method in accordance with claim 16 , wherein indicating an error status comprises displaying a representation indicating a number of errors that have occurred.