Web Hosting Talk : Web Hosting Main Forums : Web Hosting : What info will pinging tell about a host?

[fewcoin]

Wondering if pinging is a way to determine how good a webhost 's path is to me.

And, what is a acceptable millisecond range?

Thanks!
fewcoin

[Mike V]

I don't think ping is a good measurement of how good a host is. For one thing a relatively high ping from your location (150ms+) still might load websites just fine. Also, a ping could be slowed by your ISPs connection. For example some national broadband providers send your packets half way across the country to reach a web host in your city!

If you want to look at the path, use tracert:

tracert www.webhost.com (Windows)
traceroute www.webhost.com (*nix)

Pay attention to the last 4 or 5 "hops" on the list, as they are likely the path your potential host uses. The first 4 or 5 hops are the path your ISP takes. Those are just general estimates, you could post your traceroute here for analysis.

[Apoc]

Pinging is not a good way to determine whether a host is any good. For instance: if one host is located further away from you than an other one, it will get you a higher ping response. THat doesn't tell you anything about their quality though. Nevertheless, if you are certain that both hosts are located at equal distance from you, and one has a lower ping response, then that may indicate that they routing is better (note: it may). Unless your own ISP has very bad routing though, you can't blame that on a hosting provider..

However, if you need a host that's located to you as close a possible (for instance if you want to run a game server and aren't going to sell it), it may be a good indication. However it doesn't tell you anything about the network quality.

In any way: if you are going to sell hosting, you shouldn't ever base that on a ping response. Because others aren't located on the same location as you are, so they may get better or worse ping responses..

[Apoc]

Originally posted by CTG
Pay attention to the last 4 or 5 "hops" on the list, as they are likely the path your potential host uses. The first 4 or 5 hops are the path your ISP takes. Those are just general estimates, you could post your traceroute here for analysis.

If a host has multiple bandwidth providers, that doesn't apply. Someone else may be routed through a different provider so that's not always true..

[Mike V]

Originally posted by Apoc
If a host has multiple bandwidth providers, that doesn't apply. Someone else may be routed through a different provider so that's not always true..

I should have said "likely a path" ... thanks for pointing that out.

[existsite]

A traceroute would better show you where the host is compared to you