Verify TCP/IP Connection (VFYTCPCNN)

The Verify TCP/IP Connection (VFYTCPCNN) command, also known as PING, tests the connectivity between a system and the remote system specified by the remote system parameter.

Notes:

Parameters

Keyword Description Choices Notes
RMTSYS Remote system Character value, *INTNETADR Required, Positional 1
INTNETADR Remote internet address Character value Optional
ADRVERFMT Address version format *CALC, *IP4, *IP6 Optional
MSGMODE Message mode Element list Optional
Element 1: Response message detail *VERBOSE, *QUIET
Element 2: Summary, if response errors *COMP, *ESCAPE
PKTLEN Packet length (in bytes) 8-65500, 256 Optional
NBRPKT Number of packets 1-999, 5 Optional
WAITTIME Wait time (in seconds) 1-120, 1 Optional
LCLINTNETA Local internet address Character value, *ANY Optional
TOS Type of service *MINDELAY, *MAXTHRPUT, *MAXRLB, *MINCOST, *NORMAL Optional
IPTTL IP time to live (hop limit) 1-255, *DFT Optional

Remote system (RMTSYS)

Specifies the remote system name of the host with which the Verify TCP/IP operation takes place. To be successful, the name must be valid, and the remote system must be able to communicate with the local system. You can assign names to an internet address by using either of the following:

Host name resolution will depend on the value specified for the Address version format (ADRVERFMT) parameter.

*INTNETADR
The remote system is identified by the value specified for the Remote internet address (INTNETADR) parameter.
character-value
Specify the remote system name to be verified.

Remote internet address (INTNETADR)

Specifies the remote internet address. Either a valid IP Version 4 or IP Version 6 address will be accepted. An IP Version 4 internet address is not valid if it has a value of all binary ones or all binary zeros for the network identifier (ID) portion or the host ID portion of the address.

character-value
Specify the internet address of the remote system. If the internet address is entered from a command line, the address must be enclosed in apostrophes.

Address version format (ADRVERFMT)

Specifies how the host name specified for the Remote system (RMTSYS) parameter is to be resolved.

*CALC
The host name resolution method will be 'calculated' (determined) based on the host name entered in the RMTSYS parameter. IP Version 6 host name resolution will be performed if the system has at least one IP Version 6 address configured. If an IP Version 6 address is not found, IP Version 4 host name resolution will be performed if the system has at least one IP Version 4 address configured. The loopback address is not considered in this case as a configured address.
*IP4
Use the IP Version 4 host name resolution method.
*IP6
Use the IP Version 6 host name resolution method.

Message mode (MSGMODE)

Specifies the amount of information to be displayed.

Element 1: Response message detail

*VERBOSE
Display messages as each PING response arrives.
*QUIET
Display only the initial PING (VFYTCPCNN) message and the summary messages.

Element 2: Summary, if response errors

*COMP
If the PING (CFYTCPCNN) request is successful, the summary message returned is a completion message.
*ESCAPE
A monitorable escape message is returned. This is useful if you have written a program to issue the PING request and wish to monitor the PING request for errors. See the error messages section of the PING (VFYTCPCNN) command help for a list of possible escape messages.

Packet length (in bytes) (PKTLEN)

Specifies the length (in bytes) of the data in the packets that are sent to the remote system. This does not include packet headers.

256
The packet data length is 256 bytes.
8-65500
Specify the number of bytes of data in each packet.

Number of packets (NBRPKT)

Specifies the number of packets that are sent to the remote system.

5
Five packets are sent.
1-999
Specify the number of packets that are sent to the remote system.

Wait time (in seconds) (WAITTIME)

Specifies the number of seconds to wait for the return (echo) packet before declaring this packet transfer a failure.

1
The system waits 1 second.
1-120
Specify the number of second to wait.

Local internet address (LCLINTNETA)

Specifies the local internet address of the interface that the outbound packets are to use. Any valid IP Version 4 or IP Version 6 address will be accepted. An IP Version 4 internet address is not valid if it has a value of all binary ones or all binary zeros for the network identifier (ID) portion or the host ID portion of the address. If the internet address is entered from a command line, the address must be enclosed in apostrophes.

*ANY
Use any interface's local internet address.
character-value
Specify the local internet address.

Type of service (TOS)

Specifies the type of service to be used. The type of service defines how the internet hosts and routers should make trade-offs between throughput, delay, reliability, and cost.

Note: This parameter is not used if IP Version 6 address resolution is used for verifying connectivity to a remote system.

*NORMAL
Normal service is used for delivery of data.
*MINDELAY
Minimize delay means that prompt delivery is important for data on this connection.
*MAXTHRPUT
Maximize throughput means that a high data rate is important for data on this connection.
*MAXRLB
Maximize reliability means that a higher level of effort to ensure delivery is important for data on this connection.
*MINCOST
Minimize monetary cost means that lower cost is important for data on this connection.

IP time to live (hop limit) (IPTTL)

Specifies the IP datagram (packet) time-to-live value. The datagram is valid only for the number of router hops specified by this parameter. The time-to-live value acts as a "hop counter". The counter is decremented each time the datagram passes through a router or gateway. Limiting the validity of the datagram by the number of hops helps to prevent internet routing loops.

Note: IP Version 6 refers to this parameter as the hop limit.

*DFT
Use the default time-to-live value.

The default time-to-live value for multicast addresses is 1. The default time-to-live value for all other addresses is specified by the IPTTL parameter of the Change TCP/IP Attributes (CHGTCPA) command.

1-255
Specify an IP datagram (packet) time-to-live value.

Examples

Example 1: Verify TCP/IP Connection with a Specified Host Name

VFYTCPCNN   RMTSYS(IPHOST)  PKTLEN(100)  NBRPKT(10)
            WAITTIME(15)

This command attempts to send 10 packets of 100 bytes each to a remote system (known to the TCP/IP configuration as IPHOST) over a TCP/IP link. Each packet transfer must take place within 15 seconds or it fails.

Example 2: Verify TCP/IP Connection with an IP Address

VFYTCPCNN   RMTSYS(*INTNETADR)  INTNETADR('128.1.1.10')
            PKTLEN(100)  NBRPKT(10)  WAITTIME(15)

This command attempts to send 10 packets of 100 bytes each to a remote system over a TCP/IP interface. The user represents the RMTSYS with its internet address 128.1.1.10, rather than with an assigned system name. Each packet transfer that takes more that 15 seconds fails.

Example 3: Verify TCP/IP Connection with Host Name and Using a Specific Local Interface Address

VFYTCPCNN   RMTSYS(IPHOST)  MSGMODE(*QUIET)
            LCLINTNETA('9.2.2.3')

This command attempts to send 5 packets (default) of 256 bytes each (default) to a remote system over a specific TCP/IP interface that has the local address 9.2.2.3.

Because MSGMODE(*QUIET) is specified, only the primary output messages are displayed. The interface parameter is useful on multi-homed hosts to verify network connectivity through a specific physical interface.

Example 4: Verify TCP/IP Connection with an IP Version 6 Address

VFYTCPCNN   RMTSYS(*INTNETADR)
            INTNETADR('1:2:3:4:5:6:7:8')

This command attempts to verify the TCP/IP connection of a remote system that has the local address of 1:2:3:4:5:6:7:8.

Example 5: Verify TCP/IP Connection with a Specified IP Version 6 Defined Host Name

VFYTCPCNN   RMTSYS(IPV6HOST)

This command attempts to send 5 packets (default) of 256 bytes each (default) to a remote system (known to the IP Version 6 TCP/IP configuration as IPV6HOST) over a TCP/IP link.

The default "Address version format" is *CALC. Host name resolution may return multiple IP addresses for a given host name. But, in the case (*CALC), the first IP address (IP Version 4 or IP Version 6) resolved will be the address used when attempting to verify its connection over a TCP/IP link.

Example 6: Verify TCP/IP Connection and Explicitly Use IP Version 6 Host Name Resolution

VFYTCPCNN   RMTSYS(IPV6HOST)  ADRVERFMT(*IP6)

This command attempts to send 5 packets (default) of 256 bytes each (default) to a remote system (known to the IP Version 6 TCP/IP configuration as IPV6HOST) over a TCP/IP link.

This example differs from example 5 in that only a valid IP version 6 resolved address, for IPV6HOST, will be used when attempting to verify its connection over a TCP/IP link.

Error messages

*ESCAPE Messages

TCP3210
Connection verification statistics: &1 of &2 successful (&3 %).
TCP3219
Address &1 does not match address version format &2.