Multiple PINGs in parallel

Hello!

I have a ping function like s = Ping("1.2.3.4", 10000) that returns whether a host is alive or not.
10000=timeout value in miliseconds

The ping function uses IcmpSendEcho API function.

I want to be able to do multiple pings in parallel, even in case the host is not answering ( during the timeout period ).

I googled and tried using CreateThread API, but it crashes.

Any idea on how to call my ping function asynchronous or other workaround?

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Originally Posted by sorinn

I want to be able to do multiple pings in parallel, even in case the host is not answering ( during the timeout period ).

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Why exactly do you need to do that?

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Originally Posted by sorinn

I googled and tried using CreateThread API, but it crashes.

Any idea on how to call my ping function asynchronous or other workaround?

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Creating additional threads won't be necessary. The remarks in IcmpSendEcho's documentation states:

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Originally Posted by MSDN

The IcmpSendEcho2 and IcmpSendEcho2Ex functions are enhanced version of IcmpSendEcho that support asynchronous operation. The IcmpSendEcho2Ex function also allows the source IP address to be specified. This feature is useful on computers with multiple network interfaces.

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It is a project I'm working on that shall monitor some IPs at the same time and send an alert if any IP or more IPs are down.

I don't know how to use IcmpSendEcho2. I guess it is the API that supports IPv6.
If I keep the same params and I call IcmpSendEcho2, it crashes

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Originally Posted by sorinn

I don't know how to use IcmpSendEcho2. I guess it is the API that supports IPv6.

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No, there are separate APIs for that. This is from the IcmpSendEcho function:

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Originally Posted by MSDN

For IPv6, use the Icmp6CreateFile, Icmp6SendEcho2, and Icmp6ParseReplies functions.

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by sorinn

If I keep the same params and I call IcmpSendEcho2, it crashes

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See the previously given documentation link. It contains detailed information about the IcmpSendEcho2 function and instructions on how to pass each parameter.

One problem with this thread is that the result is all too easily exploited for nefarious purposes such as port scanning. That could make it a prohibited topic and a thread likely to be locked as violating posting guidelines here.

Of course anyone with any sense has pings disabled anyway, if only at their Internet gateway router.

Within a LAN there are more reliable ways to detect whether machines are up anyway. But all of this falls into the realm of administrative activities and not VB6 development at all. VB6 is not an admin tool.

Hello Dilettante!

My project is to monitor some critical IPs in the organization, IPs given in a file list and send alert via e-mail if smth occurs.
The computer where this VB6 app will run will have redundant Internet connection using NIC Teaming.

"Within a LAN there are more reliable ways to detect whether machines are up anyway"...Any effective way to achive my goal with other tools?

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Originally Posted by dilettante

One problem with this thread is that the result is all too easily exploited for nefarious purposes such as port scanning. That could make it a prohibited topic and a thread likely to be locked as violating posting guidelines here.

Of course anyone with any sense has pings disabled anyway, if only at their Internet gateway router.

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You can't really use the ICMP protocol for port scanning since it doesn't use ports. You can abuse the ICMP protocol by sending large packages of information and by doing so could create a DOS attack, that's why many turn it off on the server. But on the other hand you can abuse the TCP or UDP protocols as well but we have always allowed questions about how to use these.

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Originally Posted by dilettante

But all of this falls into the realm of administrative activities and not VB6 development at all. VB6 is not an admin tool.

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That's true but no programming language are really admin tools (unless you count things like PowerShell scripts a programming language) yet all software admin tools are built using one programming language or another. :)

This thread has been reported, and as always we thank our members for their help on keeping this forum clean, however in this case I will allow it.

You're correct, "port scanning" was the wrong phrase.