How to monitor a host with ping in Centoculus

Updated November 6, 2026

Short answer

A ping monitor in Centoculus sends ICMP echo requests to a host name or IP address from several check locations and reports the host as down when it stops answering. It shows the round-trip time and packet loss per location; you choose how many packets are sent per check and how long to wait for each.

Ping is the simplest check: does a server, router or other device on the network answer at all? It does not tell you whether a website or service works, only that the machine is reachable. Combine it with a website or port monitor for the services on it.

Step by step

1. Choose the check type Ping

Open Monitors, click New monitor and choose Ping.

2. Enter the host

Enter a host name or IP address, for example router.example.com. The host must be publicly reachable; private addresses are refused. Host names must resolve in DNS.

Form of a new ping monitor with host name, packets per check and timeout per packet

3. Set packets and timeout

Packets per check (1 to 10, default 3) is the number of echo requests per check. Timeout per packet (ms) (100 to 5000, default 1000) is how long the check waits for each answer. More packets give a steadier result on unstable links.

4. Choose interval and locations, then create

Pick the check interval and the check locations, then click Create monitor. The interval and the number of locations depend on your plan.

5. Read the results

The monitor page shows per location the round-trip time and the packet loss, plus the response time over time.

Detail page of a ping monitor with round-trip time and packet loss for each check location

Fields and defaults

Field	What it does	Default
Host name or IP address	Target of the echo requests	–
Packets per check	Echo requests per check, 1 to 10	3
Timeout per packet (ms)	Wait per answer, 100 to 5000	1000
Check interval	How often the check runs	1 minute, depending on your plan

Frequently asked questions

The host is up, but the ping monitor says down. Why?

Many firewalls and cloud providers block ICMP echo requests. The host is then reachable for web traffic but does not answer ping. Allow ICMP echo from anywhere in the firewall, or monitor a port or website on the host instead.

What does packet loss mean?

The share of echo requests that got no answer in one check. Occasional loss on a single location usually points to the network on the way, not to your host. Loss on all locations at once points to the host or its uplink.

Ping or port monitor?

Ping shows that the machine answers. A port monitor shows that a service on it accepts connections, such as SSH or a database. If the operating system is up but the service crashed, only the port monitor notices.

Can I ping an IP address directly?

Yes. Enter the address instead of a host name. It must be a public address.

Guide

Your website is down. Here is what to do in the first 15 minutes.

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Website down checker

Plans

Which check types, intervals and locations your plan includes.

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