Mac tools
The Terminal.app, is in your /Applications/Utilities/ folder.
Testing connection between Mac and an IP address on the Internet:
Open a Terminal.app command line window and enter:
ping -c 30 -i 3 8.8.8.4
8.8.8.4 is the IP address for a major DNS server operated by Google.
In the ping command, the “-c 30” portion, limits the count of PINGs sent, to 30.
In the ping command, the “-i 3” portion, sends a PING every 3 seconds.
Thereby, you may adjust the number of PINGs sent, and the PING interval.
You might open 2 Terminal.app command line windows:
ping your local area network modem/router 's gateway IP address (might be 192.168.0.1 < look it up)
ping 8.8.8.4
So, leaving both Terminal.app command line windows open and PINGs running, let us say that you believe that you have encountered some network issue with the Internet connection . . .
The command line window that PINGs 8.8.8.4, might show widely inconsistent reports, but at the same time, the PINGs to your local area network are stable.
You’ll get the idea.
If, when you encounter some glitch, but both command line windows’ PINGs are running smoothly, consistently, then you know that your network connection is probably not the source of the glitch/performance issue.
Monitoring Brave Browser and Mac OS at the same time:
Brave Browser Task Manager window on the left.
MacOS Activity Monitor on the right. Compare the Process ID (“PID”) numbers. You’ll get the idea.
Down detectors
Is It Down Right Now
https://www.isitdownrightnow.com/easydns.com.html
You can change the domain - substitute your ISP’s domain for easydns.com
Down Detector
https://downdetector.com/
In a Brave Browser New Window, go to:
brave://net-internals/#dns
Click on Clear host cache
Next, same window, select “Sockets” on the left.
Click Close idle sockets
Click Flush socket pools
Quit everything and Restart your Mac.
How to Flush DNS Cache in MacOS Catalina & Big Sur
Be Prepared for Testing
Clear cookies, cache, history, etc.
In a Brave Browser New Window, go to:
brave://settings/clearBrowserData
Select the Advanced tab
Set Time range to “All time”
ENABLE everything except:
- Passwords and other sign-in data
(Myself, I would NOT make that exception)
(because I would have a backup prepared.)
(In other words, be prepared.)
Click on the “Clear data” button