Echo locator for computer network

A method and system for specifying a targeted device by its network address and inducing the targeted device to produce a user detectable action are disclosed. Initially, an echo locator is invoked by the user at a first device (the initiating device), such as by entering a predetermined keyboard sequence. Upon invoking the locator, the targeted device is then specified by the user with an IP address, a host name, or with some other suitable identifier. If the targeted device is specified indirectly, the locator determines the network device that is associated with the specified device. Once the targeted devices has been identified, the locator of the user device issues one or more messages such as ICMP echo requests that generate a response from the targeted device. In one embodiment, the echo requests do not produce a response unless a threshold number of locator requests are detected within a predetermined time limit.