type ping at the command line without any attributes, then you'll get an overview. Possible You have to change your current directory (if there is no path pre-defined).
for simple cases use:
ping HOST
e.g. ping www.ping-me.com
or ping 127.0.0.1
(localhost = Your own computer)
Then Your computer send 4 pings to the targeted one. You get displayed if that was succesfull, how many packets were lost and if You used Domain-name it's IP-No.