execute ping using popen function

[tanjm]

Did anyone know what will the popen function return in this statement:
$p[] = popen("ping $ip -n $interval ", "r");
where $ip is the ip address of the device & $interval is the pinging count.
and how to determine the device's status is up or down from this code?

[HalfaBee]

I think you would be better off with
exec( "ping $ip -c $interval" , $retarray , $return_code );

or
$ret_string = shell_exec( "ping $ip -c $interval" );

You can then check the returned output for 'Timed out' or the IP address.
Either way would work.

HalfaBee