What is pinging?

A ping is a network test. The idea is to send a request to a server to see if we get a response and to measure how long it takes to get a response.

The aim is to check that there are no communication problems with the servers via the Internet.

Difference between TCP Ping and ICMP Ping

In both cases, it is a network test. What changes is the protocol used. (It is not the same communication systems that will be tested between TCP ping and ICMP ping).

• The ICMP ping is used to measure connectivity to the server via the Internet. However, it is not uncommon for production machines not to respond to ICMP, not because of a technical incident but because of a deliberate choice to close this communication system. In the event that the ICMP test is not conclusive, we carry out a second test with a server that is obliged to respond: the TCP ping.
• The TCP ping therefore works on the same principle as ICMP but via a TCP protocol, on port 80: this is the means of communication for your web servers. This port 80 is necessarily open, as closing it would mean making your site unavailable.

Analysis

What do the red bars mean?

If you see red on this graph from time to time, it means that your site is unavailable due to a network problem. The ping response time depends on both the bandwidth and the path between the QUANTA probe and the location where your site is hosted. For the sake of clarity, we will separate out what is not serious, what deserves your attention and what requires emergency intervention.

Please note that at the moment all measurements are made from our infrastructure in Europe. So if your site is hosted on another continent, the latency may be higher.

When to intervene urgently?

A red bar on both graphs means that it is impossible to connect to your site because of a network problem. In this case, escalate the information to your web host or network administrator immediately, your site is no longer reachable.

The situation that deserves your attention

A significant increase in response time or recurring spikes in the graphs indicate a bandwidth problem or a change in the path taken by our internet probe to reach your site. In this case, we advise you to escalate this information to your web host or network administrator.

Situations that should not worry you

An isolated spike on one of the two graphs is not serious, for the time of a single measurement it is very likely that the users of the site were not disturbed.

• A continuous red bar since QUANTA is installed on the ICMP graph means that this communication system is deliberately closed, this is not an anomaly but for a better visibility on the quality of the network, we invite you to ask your network administrator (or host) to open the access to the Ping.
• If a red bar suddenly appears on the ICMP graph, but the TCP test is still working, don't panic your site is still available. This means that the ICMP communication system has probably been cut off deliberately.