pyminiping

Lightweight Python ICMP ping library for monitoring, SRE and networking tools.

pyminiping is a pure Python ICMP ping library designed for Linux servers and monitoring tools.

It sends ICMP echo packets and returns detailed latency statistics such as RTT metrics, packet loss, TTL information, estimated hop count, and p95 latency.

The library supports IPv4, IPv6, DSCP, custom TTL, optional kernel receive timestamps via SO_TIMESTAMPNS, and includes a command-line interface.

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Quick Start

Install:

pip install pyminiping

Simple example:

from pyminiping import ping

result = ping("8.8.8.8")
print(result.mean)

Example output:

0.0042

You can also export the result as JSON:

from pyminiping import ping

result = ping("8.8.8.8")
print(result.as_json())
print(result.as_json(indent=2))

CLI usage:

sudo pyminiping 8.8.8.8

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Features

• Pure Python ICMP Echo (RAW sockets)
• IPv4 and IPv6 support
• Detailed latency statistics
• Packet loss calculation
• TTL detection for IPv4
• Estimated hop count for IPv4
• OS guess based on IPv4 TTL
• Customizable parameters:
  • packet count
  • timeout
  • interval
  • payload size
  • TTL
  • DSCP
• Percentile metrics (p95)
• Optional kernel receive timestamping with SO_TIMESTAMPNS
• CLI tool included
• No runtime dependencies
• Designed for monitoring systems

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Installation

From PyPI

pip install pyminiping

From source

git clone https://github.com/roxy-wi/pyminiping.git
cd pyminiping
python3 -m pip install .

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Example Usage

from pyminiping import ping, DestinationUnreachable

try:
    result = ping("8.8.8.8", count=5, timeout=1, interval=0.2)
    print(result.as_dict())

except DestinationUnreachable as e:
    print(f"Unreachable: {e.message} (code {e.code})")

except Exception as e:
    print(f"Ping failed: {e}")

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Example Output

{
    "sent": 5,
    "received": 5,
    "loss": 0.0,
    "min": 0.0044,
    "max": 0.0062,
    "mean": 0.0048,
    "median": 0.0045,
    "jitter": 0.0007,
    "rtt_list": [0.0062, 0.0044, 0.0045, 0.0044, 0.0045],
    "ttl": 110,
    "hops": 19,
    "os_guess": "Windows",
    "p95": 0.0061
}

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PingResult Object

The ping() function returns a PingResult dataclass.

Field	Description
sent	Number of packets sent
received	Number of packets received
loss	Packet loss percentage
min	Minimum RTT
max	Maximum RTT
mean	Average RTT
median	Median RTT
jitter	Standard deviation of RTT
p95	95th percentile
ttl	TTL from response packet
hops	Estimated hop count
os_guess	OS guess based on IPv4 TTL
rtt_list	List of RTT values

Methods:

Method	Description
as_dict()	Return result as a Python dictionary
as_json()	Return result as a JSON string

Properties:

Property	Description
success	True if at least one packet was received
packet_loss	Alias for loss

Example:

from pyminiping import ping

result = ping("1.1.1.1")

print(result.mean)
print(result.packet_loss)
print(result.success)

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Latency Metrics Explained

pyminiping returns several latency metrics commonly used in networking.

Metric	Description
min	Fastest response
max	Slowest response
mean	Average latency
median	Middle value
jitter	Standard deviation of latency
p95	95th percentile latency
loss	Packet loss percentage

Example:

min=4ms
avg=5ms
max=30ms
p95=25ms

Meaning:

• most packets arrive in about 5 ms
• occasional spikes reach 30 ms
• 95% of packets arrive under 25 ms

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Advanced Usage

Custom packet size

ping("8.8.8.8", size=128)

Change interval

ping("8.8.8.8", interval=0.5)

Set TTL

ping("8.8.8.8", ttl=32)

Send multiple packets

ping("8.8.8.8", count=10)

Use DSCP for QoS testing

ping("8.8.8.8", dscp=46)

Raise exception only when all packets timeout

ping("192.0.2.1", count=3, raise_on_timeout=True)

Use kernel receive timestamps for more precise RTT

ping("8.8.8.8", use_kernel_timestamp=True)

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Command-Line Interface (CLI)

After installing pyminiping, the CLI tool becomes available.

pyminiping <host>

Example:

sudo pyminiping 8.8.8.8

CLI Options

Option	Description	Default
host	Hostname or IP address	required
-c, --count	Number of packets	4
-t, --timeout	Timeout per packet (seconds)	1
-i, --interval	Interval between packets	0.1
-s, --size	Payload size in bytes	8
--ttl	Outgoing TTL / hop limit	system default
--dscp	DSCP value (0–63)	not set
--show-rtts	Print per-packet RTT	disabled
-j, --json	Output JSON	disabled
--precise	Use kernel receive timestamps (SO_TIMESTAMPNS)	disabled

CLI Examples

Basic ping:

sudo pyminiping 8.8.8.8

Send multiple packets:

sudo pyminiping 8.8.8.8 -c 10

Custom interval:

sudo pyminiping 8.8.8.8 -i 0.5

Set TTL:

sudo pyminiping 8.8.8.8 --ttl 32

Show packet RTTs:

sudo pyminiping 8.8.8.8 --show-rtts

JSON output:

sudo pyminiping 8.8.8.8 -j

Use kernel receive timestamps:

sudo pyminiping 8.8.8.8 --precise

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Precise Timing Mode

pyminiping can use Linux kernel receive timestamps via SO_TIMESTAMPNS for more accurate packet receive timing.

Benefits:

• more stable RTT measurement under CPU load
• lower user-space timing jitter
• useful for latency-sensitive checks

Example:

result = ping("8.8.8.8", use_kernel_timestamp=True)

CLI:

sudo pyminiping 8.8.8.8 --precise

Notes:

• this mode is Linux-specific
• support depends on the running Python build and platform socket constants
• if your environment does not expose SO_TIMESTAMPNS, precise mode may be unavailable
• it improves receive-side timing only

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Common DSCP values

Name	DSCP	Use Case
Default	0	Best effort
CS1	8	Background traffic
AF11	10	Low priority
AF21	18	Standard
AF41	34	High priority
EF	46	Voice / real-time

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Comparison with system ping

Feature	system ping	pyminiping
ICMP Echo	✔	✔
IPv4	✔	✔
IPv6	✔	✔
RTT statistics	✔	✔
Jitter calculation	✖	✔
Percentiles	✖	✔
Python API	✖	✔
JSON output	✖	✔
DSCP support	Limited	✔
Custom TTL	✔	✔
Kernel timestamp mode	Limited	✔

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Use Cases

Typical applications:

• monitoring systems
• SRE tooling
• network diagnostics
• infrastructure automation

Example monitoring check:

result = ping("1.1.1.1", count=3)

if not result.success:
    alert("Connectivity issue")

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Performance Notes

pyminiping is designed to be lightweight:

• minimal memory usage
• no subprocess calls
• no external dependencies
• suitable for monitoring agents

For most checks, normal timing is enough. Use use_kernel_timestamp=True or --precise only when you need more stable receive-side timing.

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Security

pyminiping uses RAW sockets and requires elevated privileges.

Run with sudo:

sudo pyminiping 8.8.8.8

Allow Python RAW sockets:

sudo setcap cap_net_raw+ep $(readlink -f $(which python3))

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Troubleshooting

Error: Root privileges or CAP_NET_RAW are required to create RAW socket

Run the script with root privileges or allow RAW socket capability.

Error: Cannot resolve host

Check DNS resolution or use an IP address instead of a hostname.

Error: SO_TIMESTAMPNS is not available on this platform

Precise mode depends on Linux platform support and the Python socket build.

You can:

• run without use_kernel_timestamp=True
• avoid --precise
• use a Python build that exposes the SO_TIMESTAMPNS socket option

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License

MIT License