IP Helper Functions


IcmpCreateFile Function

The IcmpCreateFile function opens a handle on which IPv4 ICMP echo requests can be issued.

Syntax

C++
HANDLE IcmpCreateFile(void);

Parameters

This function has no parameters.

Return Value

The IcmpCreateFile function returns an open handle on success. On failure, the function returns INVALID_HANDLE_VALUE. Call the GetLastError function for extended error information.

Remarks

The IcmpCreateFile function is exported from the Icmp.dll on Windows 2000. The IcmpCreateFile function is exported from the Iphlpapi.dll on Windows XP and later. Windows version checking is not recommended to use this function. Applications requiring portability with this function across Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003 and later Windows versions should not statically link to either the Icmp.lib or the Iphlpapi.lib file. Instead, the application should check for the presence of IcmpCreateFile in the Iphlpapi.dll with calls to LoadLibrary and GetProcAddress. Failing that, the application should check for the presence of IcmpCreateFile in the Icmp.dll with calls to LoadLibrary and GetProcAddress.

For IPv6, use the Icmp6CreateFile, Icmp6SendEcho2, and Icmp6ParseReplies functions.

Note that the include directive for Iphlpapi.h header file must be placed before the Icmpapi.h header file.

Examples

The following example opens a handle on which ICMP echo requests can be issued.

#include <windows.h>
#include <stdio.h>
#include <iphlpapi.h>
#include <icmpapi.h>
#pragma comment(lib, "IPHLPAPI.lib")

void main()
{
	HANDLE hIcmpFile;

	hIcmpFile = IcmpCreateFile();
	if (hIcmpFile == INVALID_HANDLE_VALUE) {
	  printf("\tUnable to open handle.\n");
	  printf("IcmpCreatefile returned error: %ld\n", GetLastError() );
	}
	else
	  printf("\tHandle created.\n");
}

Requirements

Minimum supported clientWindows 2000 Professional
Minimum supported serverWindows 2000 Server
HeaderIcmpapi.h
LibraryIphlpapi.lib
DLLIphlpapi.dll on Windows Server 2008, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP, Icmp.dll on Windows 2000 Server and Windows 2000 Professional

See Also

GetLastError
Icmp6CreateFile
Icmp6ParseReplies
Icmp6SendEcho2
IcmpCloseHandle
IcmpParseReplies
IcmpSendEcho
IcmpSendEcho2
IcmpSendEcho2Ex

Send comments about this topic to Microsoft

Build date: 11/12/2009

Tags :


Community Content

Thomas Lee
Closing the handle
need to close the handle using IcmpCloseHandle() in the example
Tags : contentbug

Page view tracker