Question: The [ping manual](http://manpages.ubuntu.com/manpages/maverick/en/man8/ping.8.html) says that `ping -a` will generate audible pings, but when I try this no sound is made.

What am I doing wrong?

Answer: 
From looking at the source, ping produces a bell by printing the ASCII bell char '\a', which is doing nothing, probably because the system beep is disabled.

You can manually try to produce the bell with:

```
echo -e "\a"

```
In my case I am using KDE in Kubuntu. I had to tick a checkbox:

1. Search applications for `Notifications`, subtitle is `Event Notifications and Actions`
2. Then under `Applications` select `Konsole`.
3. Then select `Configure Events...`
4. Then highlight `Bell in Non-Focused Session`
5. Then tick next to `Play a sound`