For cross-platform ping capabilities, I can think of three approaches:
1. The new C$SOCKET interface from AcuCorp. I'm not sure whether this will work, because I don't have access to the newest level of AcuCOBOL that has this available. Also, I suspect this is TCP only and not UDP.
2. Write a C subroutine that performs the ping.
3. Call the ping program directly (C$SYSTEM).
Regards.
Glenn