Traceroute
Traceroute is a network diagnostic tool that shows the path packets take from your computer to a destination server. It reveals every "hop" (router or gateway) along the way and measures the time it takes to reach each one.
What it shows:
- • Each network hop (router) between you and the destination
- • Response time to each hop (latency)
- • IP addresses and hostnames of intermediate devices
- • Where network delays or failures occur
Common uses:
- • Diagnose slow internet connections
- • Find network bottlenecks or routing issues
- • Verify network path to servers
- • Troubleshoot connectivity problems
How it works: Sends packets with increasing TTL (Time To Live) values. Each router decrements the TTL and sends back an error message when it reaches zero, revealing its location and response time.