linkloop & linkloop_reply - Link layer (layer-2) connectivity testing

linkloop [options] destination

This program is similar to ping(1), but tests connectivity at the link layer (layer-2) instead of the network layer (layer-3).

It receives one parameter which is the destination address, sends a special LLC-TEST packet and waits for a reply.

linkloop_reply runs as a daemon, listening at the llc level on network interfaces passed on the command line, and responding by sending back a test packet.

The destination address can be given in the following forms:

colon separated

Example: 00:02:B3:C0:DC:CA

Hexadecimal

Example: 0x0002B3C0DCCA

Name

Taken from /etc/ethers

-d

Debug

-i<iface>

Network interface

-t<timeout>

Timeout between packets

-n<retries>

Number of retries

-s<size>

Packet size in bytes

linkloop 08:00:09:91:88:FE

Default test against given MAC address

linkloop -i eth1 -t 3 -n 5 hp-715

Testing via eth1 with 3 seconds timeout and 5 frames. Run the test against the mac of hp-715 as taken from the /etc/ethers database.

linkloop_reply eth0 eth3

Listening and responding on interfaces eth0 and eth3

Oron Peled <oron@actcom.co.il>

Dominique Domet de Mont <Dominique.Domet-de-Mont@hp.com>

ping(1) ip(8)