# Ping monitoring Monitor server availability and network connectivity with lightweight ICMP ping monitoring from multiple global locations. Ideal for infrastructure teams and agencies managing servers. [ Start monitoring ](https://ohdear.app/register) 10 day free trial No credit card required ## Network path intelligence Identify where problems actually occur When connectivity issues arise, ping monitoring helps you quickly determine if the problem is at your server, your ISP, or somewhere in the routing path between locations. Packet loss patterns reveal network congestion before it becomes critical, giving you actionable intelligence for infrastructure decisions. Monitor from multiple global locations to detect regional connectivity issues and prove SLA compliance to customers in different regions. ## Early warning system Detect issues before users notice Latency spikes often precede outages. Ping monitoring catches these early warning signs, allowing you to investigate and resolve issues before they impact your users. Ping monitoring can reveal intermittent connectivity problems that might otherwise go unnoticed until they become critical. Monitor the fundamental network layer that everything else depends on. When ping fails, you know the problem is deeper than just your application. ## Cost-effective infrastructure health Comprehensive monitoring without the overhead Our ping monitoring is a lightweight solution that doesn't consume server resources or require agents. Perfect for monitoring network devices like routers and switches that don't run web services. Ping monitoring provides essential multi-layer troubleshooting to quickly isolate network-level vs application-level issues. ## Complement your existing monitoring Fill the gaps in your monitoring strategy Ping monitoring fills gaps where [TCP monitoring](https://ohdear.app/features/tcp-port-monitoring) can't reach, such as network equipment and basic connectivity validation. Validate that routing works before checking if applications respond - essential for efficient incident response workflows. Use latency trends for proactive capacity planning to know when to upgrade network infrastructure, and leverage packet loss patterns to optimize routing and peering decisions. ## Security-First Monitoring Monitor network infrastructure without compromising security Monitor your network infrastructure and internal systems safely by restricting ping access to Oh Dear's fixed IP addresses only. No need to expose systems publicly for monitoring. Configure your firewalls, security groups, and access control lists to allow ICMP traffic exclusively from Oh Dear's monitoring servers, maintaining your security posture while ensuring comprehensive network monitoring coverage. Our static IP addresses don't change often, providing stable security rules that won't break over time. Monitor internal networks, private servers, and critical infrastructure without creating security vulnerabilities. WHITELIST OH DEAR'S IP ADDRESSES- Get our complete list of static IP addresses for secure monitoring. Perfect for firewall rules and security group configurations. [View our IP addresses](/docs/faq/what-ips-does-oh-dear-monitor-from). ## Stop worrying, start monitoring Start a no-strings-attached 10-day free trial. You're all set in less than a minute. (No credit card needed.) Not convinced yet? Need help? Get in touch via . ## Service monitoring to the next level Be confident that your services are available and and only available for the right people. ## Reverse Monitoring & Compliance Get notified when hidden services unexpectedly come online Monitor services that should remain hidden for compliance and security reasons. Get immediate alerts when internal systems, staging environments, or sensitive infrastructure accidentally become publicly accessible via ICMP ping. Compliance violations often occur when supposedly isolated systems become reachable due to configuration errors, network changes, or security misconfigurations that expose internal infrastructure. Set up reverse monitoring to ensure your sensitive systems maintain their intended isolation and receive instant notifications if they become unexpectedly pingable from external networks. COMPLIANCE & SECURITY MONITORING- Perfect for PCI DSS, HIPAA, SOX compliance requirements where internal services must remain isolated. Monitor from multiple external locations to ensure your security perimeter remains intact. ## Really into the nitty gritty details? Want to get into the nitty gritty details of our monitoring? Have a look at our documentation. ## Frequently asked questions ### What is ping monitoring and when should I use it? Ping monitoring sends ICMP requests to a server and alerts you when it stops responding. Use it for hosts that don't serve HTTP, like gateways, mail servers, or database servers, or as the fastest is-the-machine-up signal. ### What are best practices for server ping monitoring? Check at a steady interval from more than one location, alert only on verified consecutive failures, watch latency trends rather than single readings, and pair ping with HTTP checks so you know whether the host or the app is down. [See all other FAQ items →](https://ohdear.app/docs/faq) ## Start monitoring instantly Start a no-strings-attached 10-day free trial. You're all set in less than a minute. (No credit card needed.) Not convinced yet? Need help? Get in touch via .