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Q137421: PING to Broadcast Address May Get Response

Article: Q137421
Product(s): Microsoft Windows NT
Version(s): 3.50 3.51
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): 
Last Modified: 08-AUG-2001

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Windows NT Workstation versions 3.5, 3.51 
- Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 3.5, 3.51 
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If the PING command is used to a broadcast address, some devices will
respond.

The following RFC section discusses pinging a broadcast address:

  RFC-1122 Section 3.2.2.6 Echo Request/Reply

  "An ICMP Echo Request destined to an IP broadcast or IP multicast address MAY
  be silently discarded.

  DISCUSSION:
  This neutral provision results from a passionate debate between those who feel
  that ICMP Echo to a broadcast address provides a valuable diagnostic
  capability and those who feel that misuse of this feature can too easily
  create packet storms."

Windows NT 3.5 computers do not reply to these PING Echo Requests. Novell
3.12 Servers send an Echo Reply.

Additional query words: prodnt tcp/ip

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Keywords          :  
Technology        : kbWinNTsearch kbWinNTWsearch kbWinNT351search kbWinNT350search kbWinNTW350 kbWinNTW350search kbWinNTW351search kbWinNTW351 kbWinNTSsearch kbWinNTS351 kbWinNTS350 kbWinNTS351search kbWinNTS350search
Version           : 3.50 3.51

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