CompTIA Network+ Practice Test

Which tool would you use to verify local IP connectivity?

1. TCPdump

2. Wireshark

3. Ping

4. NetFlow

The correct answer is: Ping

The tool to verify local IP connectivity is indeed Ping. This utility is specifically designed to test the reachability of a host on an Internet Protocol (IP) network. It sends Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) Echo Request messages to the destination host and listens for Echo Reply messages in response. This process enables the user to confirm whether the target device is reachable and measures the round-trip time for messages sent from the originating host to the destination. Using Ping not only checks whether the local IP address is reachable but also provides additional information such as packet loss and response time, making it a simple and effective tool for troubleshooting connectivity issues. The other options serve different purposes. For example, TCPdump is a packet analyzing tool that captures and displays the packets being transmitted over a network, which provides more comprehensive insights but is more complex and not directly intended for simple connectivity checks. Wireshark also captures network packets and provides detailed analysis but similarly focuses on in-depth packet analysis rather than quick connectivity testing. NetFlow is primarily used for monitoring and analyzing network traffic flows, which again does not focus on basic connectivity tests. Thus, Ping is the most straightforward and effective choice for verifying local IP connectivity.