Traceroute Tool
Trace the path of packets across an IP network
About Traceroute
Traceroute is a network diagnostic tool that shows the path that packets take across an IP network. Each hop represents a router or server that the packets pass through on their way to the destination.
Results may vary based on network conditions
Learn more about tracerouteWhat is Traceroute?
Traceroute is a network diagnostic tool used to track the pathway taken by a packet on an IP network from source to destination. It records the route's path and measures transit delays of packets.
How Traceroute Works
Traceroute works by sending packets with gradually increasing Time to Live (TTL) values, starting with TTL=1. As each router receives a packet, it decrements the TTL value by 1 and forwards the packet. When a router receives a packet with TTL=1, it returns an ICMP "Time Exceeded" message. This way, traceroute discovers the routers on the path.
Hop
Each router or server that a packet passes through on its way to the destination is called a "hop."
RTT (Round-Trip Time)
The time it takes for a packet to reach a hop and for the response to return, measured in milliseconds (ms).
Interpreting Results
- Asterisks (*) indicate a timeout or no response from that hop
- Increasing RTT values generally indicate greater physical distance
- Sudden large increases in RTT may indicate network congestion or crossing to a different network
- The final hop should be your destination