PHP online offline

Ok, all I want to do is use PHP or ASP or XML or whatever to find out if my IP is connected to the internet.

If i am connected, i want PHP to return "online" for flash to retrieve.

if i am not, "offline"

i have heard of PING but I don't know how to use ti so if somebody could help me with the PHP code it would be awesome
thanx
julian

check the code at this link -
http://www.jackleaman.co.uk/test/url/checkURL.html

Note: online testing takes you to frame#2, offline testing stays on frame#1

ok thanks man

editing doesn't do much but anyway, I don't get it.

I just need to know what pinging does?

er i mean how to use it in PHP and then send the response to flash

Sorry about the new thread. here's the script i used:

PHP Code:

---

$online = ping("121.223.89.5");
if ($online) print &mystatus=online;
else
print &mystatus=offline 


---

It always returns offline.

why?

I'm connected to the internet!!

Is it because I am using the same IP on ping() as the IP of the computer i am using?

Please help me out somebody... I'm getting the status offline STRAIGHT AWAY

I just need to know what pinging does?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ping

how to use it in PHP

PHP Code:

---

<?
echo "&str=".$_SERVER['SERVER_NAME'].$_SERVER['PHP_SELF'];
?>

---