arping

Index · Directives iputils 20250605

## Name

arping — send ARP REQUEST to a neighbour host

## Synopsis

`arping` [ `-AbDfhqUV` ] [ `-c `count`` ] [ `-w `deadline`` ] [ `-i `interval`` ] [ `-s `source`` ] [ `-I `interface`` ] {destination}

## DESCRIPTION

Ping destination on device interface by ARP packets, using source address source.

arping supports IPv4 addresses only. For IPv6, see ndisc6(8).

## OPTIONS

`-A`

  The same as `-U`, but ARP REPLY packets used instead of ARP REQUEST.

`-b`

  Send only MAC level broadcasts. Normally arping starts from sending broadcast, and switch to unicast after reply received.

`-c `count``

  Stop after sending count ARP REQUEST packets. With deadline option, instead wait for count ARP REPLY packets, or until the timeout expires.

`-D`

  Duplicate address detection mode (DAD). See RFC2131, 4.4.1. Returns 0, if DAD succeeded i.e. no replies are received.

`-f`

  Finish after the first reply confirming that target is alive.

`-I `interface``

  Name of network device where to send ARP REQUEST packets.

`-h`

  Print help page and exit.

`-q`

  Quiet output. Nothing is displayed.

`-s `source``

  IP source address to use in ARP packets. If this option is absent, source address is:

    • In DAD mode (with option `-D`) set to 0.0.0.0.

    • In Unsolicited ARP mode (with options `-U` or `-A`) set to destination.

    • Otherwise, it is calculated from routing tables.

`-U`

  Unsolicited ARP mode to update neighbours' ARP caches. No replies are expected.

`-V`

  Print version of the program and exit.

`-w `deadline``

  Specify a timeout, in seconds, before arping exits regardless of how many packets have been sent or received. If any replies are received, exit with status 0, otherwise status 1. When combined with the count option, exit with status 0 if count replies are received before the deadline expiration, otherwise status 1.

`-i `interval``

  Specify an interval, in seconds, between packets.

## SEE ALSO

ndisc6(8), ping(8), clockdiff(8), tracepath(8).

## AUTHOR

arping was written by Alexey Kuznetsov <kuznet@ms2.inr.ac.ru>.

## SECURITY

arping requires CAP_NET_RAW capability to be executed. It is not recommended to be used as set-uid root, because it allows user to modify ARP caches of neighbour hosts.

## AVAILABILITY

arping is part of iputils package.