If the remote IP address is active, it responds with an ICMP echo reply. Ping can be used as an alternative to the traceroute utility to trace the hop or path that the ping echo takes through the network.
Ping is faster, however, and generates less network traffic than traceroute.
Using a network monitor like LANalyzer for Windows, a network administrator can follow a packet exchange. For example, Synoptic hub sometimes seek a network management station, an optional facility that Synoptic offers. The hubs will look for the management station using ICMP pings at frequent time intervals. If the management station doesn't exist, the pings will continue, causing unnecessary traffic. In this example, one solution would be to disable the Internet Protocol on each hub.