It allows you to set optional parameters when issuing a PING, the same goes for an extended traceroute. If your platform supports it you can issue IPX pings as well as IP. See the output below showing you the various options:
router#ping
Protocol [ip]:
Target IP address: 192.168.255.253
Repeat count [5]: 100
Datagram size [100]:
Timeout in seconds [2]:
Extended commands [n]: y
Source address or interface: loopback0
Type of service [0]: 184
Set DF bit in IP header? [no]:
Validate reply data? [no]:
Data pattern [0xABCD]:
Loose, Strict, Record, Timestamp, Verbose[none]:
Sweep range of sizes [n]:
Type escape sequence to abort.
Sending 100, 100-byte ICMP Echos to 192.168.255.253, timeout is 2 seconds:
Packet sent with a source address of 192.168.255.254
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Success rate is 100 percent (100/100), round-trip min/avg/max = 1/3/4 ms
router#
HTH
Andy
