Use a Windows Script File

With a EXE/Script sensor, you can use a Windows command script (.cmd/.bat) to send a Ping request to a device and return an error when it is actually reachable.

We've tested the following script sucessfully:

@echo off
PING %1 > nul
if errorlevel 1 (echo 0:OK - Ping to %1 failed && EXIT /B 0) else (echo 1:Error - Ping to %1 successful && EXIT /B 2)

Steps to take

1. In the \PRTG Network Monitor\Custom Sensors\EXE sub-directory of your PRTG installation, create a BAT or CMD file inverse_ping.cmd containing the script shown above. In a cluster installation, copy this file to every cluster node.
2. In PRTG, add a new EXE/Script sensor.
   • In the sensor's settings, choose inverse_ping.cmd from the EXE/Script drop down menu.
   • In the Parameters field, enter the DNS name or IP address of the device you want to Ping.
   • Save your settings.
3. The sensor will start monitoring immediately.
   • If the configured device does not answer to a Ping, the sensor will show a green OK status, the last message OK - Ping to xyz failed, and the last result 0.
   • If the configured device does actually answer to a Ping, the sensor will show a red Down status, the last message Error - Ping to xzy successful, and the last result 1.

Notes

• The values returned by the script do not correspond to the measured Ping times, but are merely to indicate the status. To additionally measure Ping times, you can add another sensor. Please see How to create/customize statistical PING sensor? for more information.
• As usual, you can set up notification triggers to be notified when the EXE/Script sensor's state changes.
• Issues related to custom sensors are not covered by Paessler's 24-hours support offer.