Custom Ping Utility

Objective

The goal of this assignment is to develop a custom ping utility that replicates the basic functionality of the standard ping tool. This tool will allow users to test network reachability and measure round-trip time (RTT) for packets sent to a target IP address.

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Problem Statement

Your task is to build a custom ping utility that performs the following functions:

• Send ICMP echo requests to a target IP address.
• Receive and process ICMP echo replies from the target.
• Calculate and display round-trip time (RTT) for each ICMP echo request-reply cycle.
• [Bonus] Provide statistics on:
  • Packet loss
  • Minimum RTT
  • Maximum RTT
  • Average RTT
  • Standard deviation of RTT
• [Bonus] Provide options to configure the utility:
  • Choose the network interface for sending packets.
  • Set the Time-To-Live (TTL) value.
  • Support both IPv4 and IPv6.

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Repository Setup

1. Clone the repository:

   git clone <repo-link>
   cd custom-ping-utility

2. Modify and extend the provided template according to the requirements.

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Implementation Guidelines

• Implement socket programming to handle ICMP (Internet Control Message Protocol) packets.
• Ensure compatibility with both Linux and macOS systems.
• Use appropriate error handling to deal with network timeouts, unreachable hosts, and permission issues.
• Structure your code to allow easy extension for bonus features.

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Documentation Requirements

Your submission must include:

• A README.md file with:
  • Clear setup and installation instructions.
  • Usage examples with command-line arguments.
  • Required dependencies and supported versions.
• Well-documented code with meaningful comments.
• A script (scripts/test.sh) to test the functionality of your custom ping utility.

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Example Repository Structure

/ (Root)
│── README.md          # Detailed assignment instructions
│── Makefile           # Build and run commands (if applicable)
│── src/
│   │── main.py        # Main Python script for the ping utility
│   │── icmp_handler.py # ICMP packet handling logic
│── scripts/
│   │── test.sh        # Script to test the program

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Resources

• What are Ping and Traceroute Really?
• Socket Programming Guide
• Understanding ICMP and Ping
• Socket Programming in Python (for implementation reference)

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Submission Instructions

1. Complete your implementation and ensure it meets the assignment requirements.
2. Update the README.md with detailed instructions on how to build and run your solution.
3. Make a pull request (PR) to submit your final code.
4. Your PR should include:
   • A description of your implementation.
   • Any limitations or known issues.
   • Example test cases demonstrating the tool's functionality.

Happy coding! 🚀