Arping is a util to find out if a specific IP address on the LAN is 'taken' and what MAC address owns it. Sure, you *could* just use 'ping' to find out if it's taken and even if the computer blocks ping (and everything else) you still get an entry in your ARP cache. But what if you aren't on a routable net? Or the host blocks ping (all ICMP even)? Then you're screwed. Or you use arping. Why it's not stupid: Say you have a block of N real IANA-assigned IP-addresses. You want to debug the net and
mping intends to be an easy to use and script friendly program. Similar to the standard ping program, but unlike it, the response to multicast ping is sent by another mping.
fping is a program to send ICMP echo probes to network hosts, similar to ping, but much better performing when pinging multiple hosts.
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