Test-connection PowerShell Command

The Test-Connection command is a powerful tool for system administrators and IT professionals. It allows them to quickly check the status of a network connection, test the speed of a connection, and troubleshoot network issues. This guide will provide a comprehensive overview of the Test-Connection command, including its syntax, parameters, inputs, outputs, examples, and tips.

What is the Test-Connection Command?

The Test-Connection command is a PowerShell cmdlet that enables users to test the connection status of a remote computer or network device. It is used to check the status of a network connection, test the speed of a connection, and troubleshoot network issues. The Test-Connection command is part of the PowerShell Core module, which is included in Windows 10 and Windows Server 2016 or later.

Syntax of the Test-Connection Command

The syntax of the Test-Connection command is as follows:

Test-Connection -ComputerName [-Count ] [-Delay ] [-BufferSize ] [-TimeToLive ] [-Source ] [-InformationLevel ] [-Quiet]

Parameters of the Test-Connection Command

The Test-Connection command has the following parameters:

Parameter Description
ComputerName The name of the remote computer or network device to be tested.
Count The number of test packets to be sent.
Delay The amount of time, in milliseconds, to wait between each test packet.
BufferSize The size of the test packet, in bytes.
TimeToLive The time-to-live value of the test packet.
Source The source IP address of the test packet.
InformationLevel The level of detail to be returned in the output.
Quiet A switch that suppresses the output of the command.

Inputs of the Test-Connection Command

The Test-Connection command requires the following inputs:

  • The name of the remote computer or network device to be tested.
  • The number of test packets to be sent.
  • The amount of time, in milliseconds, to wait between each test packet.
  • The size of the test packet, in bytes.
  • The time-to-live value of the test packet.
  • The source IP address of the test packet.
  • The level of detail to be returned in the output.

Outputs of the Test-Connection Command

The Test-Connection command produces the following outputs:

  • The status of the connection.
  • The response time of the connection.
  • The source IP address of the test packet.
  • The destination IP address of the test packet.
  • The time-to-live value of the test packet.
  • The size of the test packet.
  • The number of test packets sent.
  • The number of test packets received.
  • The number of test packets lost.

Examples of the Test-Connection Command

The following examples demonstrate how to use the Test-Connection command:

  • To test the connection to a remote computer named “Server1”, use the following command:

Test-Connection -ComputerName Server1

  • To test the connection to a remote computer named “Server1” and send 10 test packets, use the following command:

Test-Connection -ComputerName Server1 -Count 10

  • To test the connection to a remote computer named “Server1” and wait 500 milliseconds between each test packet, use the following command:

Test-Connection -ComputerName Server1 -Delay 500

  • To test the connection to a remote computer named “Server1” and return detailed information, use the following command:

Test-Connection -ComputerName Server1 -InformationLevel Detailed

Tips for Using the Test-Connection Command

The following tips can help you get the most out of the Test-Connection command:

  • If you need to test the connection to multiple computers or network devices, use the Invoke-Command cmdlet to run the Test-Connection command on each computer or device.
  • If you need to test the connection to multiple computers or network devices simultaneously, use the Start-Job cmdlet to run the Test-Connection command on each computer or device.
  • If you need to test the connection to multiple computers or network devices periodically, use the Schedule-Job cmdlet to run the Test-Connection command on each computer or device.
  • If you need to test the connection to multiple computers or network devices from multiple locations, use the Invoke-Command cmdlet to run the Test-Connection command on each computer or device from each location.

Conclusion

The Test-Connection command is a powerful tool for system administrators and IT professionals. It allows them to quickly check the status of a network connection, test the speed of a connection, and troubleshoot network issues. This guide has provided a comprehensive overview of the Test-Connection command, including its syntax, parameters, inputs, outputs, examples, and tips.

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