Why Does the First Ping Usually Fail?

When pinging a remote device, why does the first ping usually fail to get a response in most, but not all cases?

Subsequent ping requests are successful because the ARP cache in the remote router is now valid, and the request can go all the way through.

This first ping failing is not a defect in the network, as there is no fault to remedy, it is normal for networks to operate this way.

However, if the remote device has been communicated with in the past five minutes, the ARP information is still in the remote router’s ARP cache. In this case, the first ping might not fail.

Note: If you are pinging a router’s own interface, there is no ARP cache that needs to be updated, as the router knows its own interface. In this case, the first ping should always reply successfully.

PathSolutions TotalView covers all of these bases, ensuring the best operating environment for your Network.

Click here to download the Fact Sheet in standard PDF format.

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