Which command can be utilized for troubleshooting network issues?

The command that is commonly used for troubleshooting network issues is ping. This utility is essential for verifying the connectivity between two networked devices. When you use ping, it sends Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) echo request packets to the target host and waits for an echo reply. If replies are received successfully, it indicates that the network path to the host is operational, as well as the host's ability to respond to network traffic.

Ping can also provide vital information like the round-trip time for packets and packet loss statistics, which are crucial for diagnosing potential issues in the network path. When encountering connectivity problems, using ping first can help confirm whether a device is reachable and can help isolate the problem to either the network itself or the individual device.

While other commands such as traceroute, ifconfig, and netstat are useful for network diagnostics, they serve different purposes. Traceroute identifies the route packets take to reach a destination, which helps diagnose routing issues but does not verify connectivity directly. Ifconfig displays and configures network interface parameters but does not directly check connectivity. Netstat provides information about current network connections and listening ports, which can be helpful in understanding the network state, but it does not test connectivity like ping does.