arping

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arping is a computer program which is similar in function to ping, but it operates using Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) instead of Internet Control Message Protocol. As such, arping is only usable on the local network, and in some cases the response will be coming, not from the arpinged host, but rather from an intermediate system that engages in proxy ARP (such as a router). Template:IPstack There are two arping implementations. One is part of Linux iproute2, is Linux-only, and cannot currently ask who has what MAC address. The other arping implementation by Thomas Habets uses libpcap and libnet to be platform independent, and works on lots of UNIX-based OSs and even Windows.

Example arping (iputils version) session:

ARPING 192.168.39.120 from 192.168.39.1 eth0
Unicast reply from 192.168.39.120 [00:01:80:38:F7:4C]  0.810ms
Unicast reply from 192.168.39.120 [00:01:80:38:F7:4C]  0.607ms
Unicast reply from 192.168.39.120 [00:01:80:38:F7:4C]  0.602ms
Unicast reply from 192.168.39.120 [00:01:80:38:F7:4C]  0.606ms
Sent 4 probes (1 broadcast(s))
Received 4 response(s)

Arping from T.Habets:

arping2 00:01:80:38:F7:4C
arping2 192.168.39.120

Trying to ping a MAC address will use an ICMP packet, which not all hosts actually respond to.

[edit] See also

• Arpwatch

[edit] External links

• Arping (portable version)
• A fully functional arping implementation in 26 lines of Python code, using scapy
• arping(8) – Linux Programmer's Manual