---
name: "arping"
section: "8"
platform: "linux"
package: "iputils"
version: "20250605-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/arping"
---

# arping(8)

send ARP REQUEST to a neighbour host

## NAME

arping - send ARP REQUEST to a neighbour host

## SYNOPSIS

**arping** \[**-AbDfhqUV**\] \[**-c** *count*\] \[**-w** *deadline*\] \[**-i** *interval*\] \[**-s** *source*\] \[**-I** *interface*\] {destination}

## DESCRIPTION

Ping *destination* on device *interface* by ARP packets, using source address *source*.

arping supports IPv4 addresses only. For IPv6, see [**ndisc6**(8)](/ndisc6/8.md).

## OPTIONS

- **-A**

  The same as **-U**, but ARP REPLY packets used instead of ARP REQUEST.

- **-b**

  Send only MAC level broadcasts. Normally **arping** starts from sending broadcast, and switch to unicast after reply received.

- **-c** *count*

  Stop after sending *count* ARP REQUEST packets. With *deadline* option, instead wait for *count* ARP REPLY packets, or until the timeout expires.

- **-D**

  Duplicate address detection mode (DAD). See RFC2131, 4.4.1. Returns 0, if DAD succeeded i.e. no replies are received.

- **-f**

  Finish after the first reply confirming that target is alive.

- **-I** *interface*

  Name of network device where to send ARP REQUEST packets.

- **-h**

  Print help page and exit.

- **-q**

  Quiet output. Nothing is displayed.

- **-s** *source*

  IP source address to use in ARP packets. If this option is absent, source address is:

  • In DAD mode (with option **-D**) set to 0.0.0.0.

  • In Unsolicited ARP mode (with options **-U** or **-A**) set to *destination*.

  • Otherwise, it is calculated from routing tables.

- **-U**

  Unsolicited ARP mode to update neighbours' ARP caches. No replies are expected.

- **-V**

  Print version of the program and exit.

- **-w** *deadline*

  Specify a timeout, in seconds, before **arping** exits regardless of how many packets have been sent or received. If any replies are received, exit with status 0, otherwise status 1. When combined with the *count* option, exit with status 0 if *count* replies are received before the deadline expiration, otherwise status 1.

- **-i** *interval*

  Specify an interval, in seconds, between packets.

## SEE ALSO

[**ndisc6**(8)](/ndisc6/8.md), [**ping**(8)](/ping/8.md), [**clockdiff**(8)](/clockdiff/8.md), [**tracepath**(8)](/tracepath/8.md).

## AUTHOR

**arping** was written by Alexey Kuznetsov \<kuznet@ms2.inr.ac.ru\>.

## SECURITY

**arping** requires CAP\_NET\_RAW capability to be executed. It is not recommended to be used as set-uid root, because it allows user to modify ARP caches of neighbour hosts.

## AVAILABILITY

**arping** is part of *iputils* package.