When diagnosing network connectivity issues, a traceroute is a crucial tool that maps the path data takes from your computer to a destination server. By examining the hops, or intermediary servers, along this route, you can identify where delays or failures are occurring. Each hop’s IP address, round-trip time (RTT), and potential packet loss provide critical clues. High RTTs or timeouts at specific hops often pinpoint the location of a problem, whether it’s a congested link, a malfunctioning router, or a server that’s unreachable. Understanding this information helps pinpoint whether the issue lies within your own network, with your internet service provider, or at the destination server’s end.
Key findings:
- A traceroute reveals the network path and latency between your device and a target server.
- Each hop in the trace represents a router or server along the way.
- High latency or packet loss at a specific hop indicates a potential problem at that point in the network path.
- Analyzing the traceroute helps pinpoint the location of network connectivity issues.
Source: https://thenewstack.io/how-to-read-a-traceroute-for-network-troubleshooting/
