This is getting a bit speculative for netbsd-bugs.

>>Perhaps this could fill the void associated with
>>lacking an ethernet-level "ping" utility. I don't
>>think it belongs in the "arp" program, though...
>
>no...?  it "sounds" like the appropriate place to put it.

No...the "arp" program is for manipulating kernel tables,
not for sending and receiving packets. Such a program
should work basically like "ping" and allow the user
to send multiple probes and get statistics, etc.

>>For those not in the know, Ethernet in fact
>>deffines a "Configuration and Test Protocol" with

>>and then I decide that it's not too useful unless
>>it is widely deployed, which it is not...
>
>can you check for the protocol's availablity at run-time?

Huh? THe problem is analagous to being the only system
in the world who implements "ping". It's not very useful because
you cannot ping other people. I don't see where you are proposing
a runtime check to happen.

--jhawk