Which command is used to ping a network device using its IP address?

The command used to ping a network device using its IP address is the ping command. Ping is a network utility that tests the reachability of a host on an Internet Protocol (IP) network. By sending Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) Echo Request messages to the target host and listening for Echo Reply messages, it determines whether the host is reachable and also measures round-trip time for messages sent to the destination. This tool is essential for troubleshooting network connectivity issues, as it verifies that a device at a specific IP address is operational and how long it takes for the data packets to travel to and from the device.

The other options do not serve the purpose of testing the reachability of a network device using its IP address. Tracert, for instance, is used to determine the route taken by packets to reach a specific destination, providing a hop-by-hop view of the path through the network. Ipconfig displays the current configuration of the device’s network interfaces, including IP addresses, subnet masks, and gateways, but it does not perform any network testing. Netstat provides information on current network connections, routing tables, and network statistics but does not check the reachability of an IP address. Thus, the ping command is the straightforward and effective choice