Ping monitoring
Monitor network-level reachability of any server or IP address with ICMP echo requests (ping) — no HTTP required.
Ping (ICMP) monitors check network-level reachability of any server or IP address using ICMP echo requests. Unlike HTTP monitors, they work at the network layer and require no HTTP server on the target.
How it works
HowlOps probers send ICMP echo requests to the target IP or hostname at the configured interval. If the host doesn't respond within the timeout, it is marked down and an alert is triggered.
Ping monitors require the target to allow ICMP traffic. Many cloud providers block ICMP by default — if ping cannot reach your server, use an HTTP monitor instead.
Configuration
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Host / IP | Hostname or IP address to ping, e.g. 192.168.1.1 or db.example.com |
| Check interval | How often to send the ping. Minimum: 120s on Free, 60s on S, 30s on M, 15s on L |
| Timeout | Max wait time for an ICMP reply. Default: 5 seconds |
| Packet count | Number of ICMP packets per check. Default: 3 |
| Alert threshold | Consecutive failures before triggering an alert. Default: 2 |
Use cases
- Database servers — verify network-level availability even when no HTTP endpoint exists.
- VPN gateways and routers — monitor network infrastructure from an external perspective.
- CDN edge nodes — ping specific IPs to verify anycast routing.
Plan availability
| Feature | Free | S | M | L |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ping monitors | 50 total | 100 total | 500 total | 2000 total |
| Minimum check interval | 120s | 60s | 30s | 15s |
| Multi-region ping | Single region | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
For current limits and pricing, see the pricing page.
FAQ
Can I ping a private IP address? No. HowlOps probers run from cloud infrastructure and can only reach publicly routable IPs. Private/internal addresses are not reachable from external probers.
Why does ping fail but HTTP works? Most likely ICMP is blocked by a firewall — common on cloud VMs. Use an HTTP monitor instead.
Does ping check SSL certificates? No. Ping is network-layer only. Use an HTTP monitor for SSL monitoring.
Related
Was this page helpful?