What command confirms connectivity between hosts on a network?

The command that confirms connectivity between hosts on a network is the ping command. It operates by sending Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) Echo Request messages to the specified IP address or hostname, and it listens for Echo Reply messages. When the receiving host gets these messages, it replies, indicating that the connection between the two devices is functioning.

Ping not only confirms that a connection exists but also provides useful information about the round-trip time it takes for messages to travel to the target and back. This information can help diagnose issues related to latency and packet loss, making it an essential tool for network troubleshooting.

Other commands serve different purposes: Tracert is used to determine the path packets take to reach a network destination, yielding more detailed information about the hops along the route but not directly confirming connectivity like ping does. Ipconfig displays network configuration details but does not test or confirm connectivity. Netstat provides information about current network connections and listening ports but does not test connectivity between hosts.