---
name: "spray"
section: "8"
platform: "freebsd"
package: "base"
version: "16.0-CURRENT-20261027-61c70dc16a79"
release: "FreeBSD 16.0-CURRENT (2026-10-27)"
platforms: ["freebsd", "macos"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/spray"
---

# spray(8)

send many packets to host

## NAME

**spray** – send many packets to host

## SYNOPSIS

**spray** \[**-c** *count*\] \[**-d** *delay*\] \[**-l** *length*\] *host*

## DESCRIPTION

The **spray** utility sends multiple RPC packets to *host* and records how many of them were correctly received and how long it took.

The options are as follows:

- **-c** *count*

  Send *count* packets.

- **-d** *delay*

  Pause *delay* microseconds between sending each packet.

- **-l** *length*

  Set the length of the packet that holds the RPC call message to *length* bytes. Not all values of *length* are possible because RPC data is encoded using XDR. The **spray** utility rounds up to the nearest possible value.

The **spray** utility is intended for use in network testing, measurement, and management. This command *can be very hard on a network and should be used with caution*.

## SEE ALSO

[netstat(1)](/netstat/1.md), [ifconfig(8)](/ifconfig/8.md), [ping(8)](/ping/8.md), [rpc.sprayd(8)](/rpc.sprayd/8.md)