Basic Troubleshooting: Ping, DNS & Connectivity Checks

A few simple commands and a logical process solve most everyday connectivity problems without needing to guess randomly.

• ping tests whether one device can reach another (e.g. ping 8.8.8.8 tests general internet reachability).
• If you can ping an IP address (like 8.8.8.8) but not a website name, the problem is likely DNS (the service that turns website names into IP addresses).
• Isolation testing: Try another device on the same network — if it also fails, the problem is the network; if only one device fails, the problem is that device.
• Restarting the router (unplug 10 seconds, plug back in) resolves a large share of everyday connectivity issues.

Practical Skill: Practice the diagnostic flow below on a real "no internet" scenario, narrating each step and what it tells you.

=== "NO INTERNET" DIAGNOSTIC FLOW === 1. ping 127.0.0.1        (tests your own device's network stack)2. ping 192.168.1.1      (tests reaching your router — use your                           actual gateway IP from ipconfig)3. ping 8.8.8.8          (tests reaching the internet by IP)4. ping google.com       (tests DNS — turning names into IPs) Result interpretation:  Step 1 fails  -> problem is your own device's network settings  Step 2 fails  -> problem is between your device and the router  Step 3 fails  -> problem is your router's internet connection  Step 4 fails but Step 3 works -> DNS problem specifically  All succeed   -> the specific website/app you're testing may                   be down, not your network