What 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 displays the route and measures transit delays of packets across the network.
Each hop in the traceroute output represents a router or gateway along the path, showing the IP address and round-trip times (RTT) for packets to reach that point and return.
Common Applications of Traceroute
- Identifying network bottlenecks or points of failure.
- Diagnosing high latency or packet loss issues.
- Verifying network routing and connectivity.
- Troubleshooting internet connection problems.
Note: Traceroute results can vary due to network conditions, firewalls, or load balancing. Some hops may not respond, shown as asterisks (*).