This article explains how to run the "traceroute" command on a computer or smartphone. The "traceroute" command allows you to trace the path of an IP data packet, that is, to view all the network servers that are contacted, starting from your computer to get to its destination. This command is useful for diagnosing and resolving any existing problems on the network that could be the cause of your device's internet connection malfunction.
Steps
Method 1 of 5: Windows
Step 1. Access the "Start" menu by clicking on the icon
It features the Windows logo and is located in the lower left corner of the desktop. Alternatively, press the ⊞ Win key on your keyboard. The menu will be displayed Start Windows.
Step 2. Type the command prompt keywords
A search for the "Command Prompt" program will be performed on your computer.
Step 3. Click on the "Command Prompt" icon
It is displayed at the top of the search results list.
Step 4. Determine the website you want to track the communication for
For example, if you want to see the routing of data packets that leave your computer to reach Facebook's servers, you will need to use the URL of the Facebook website.
Step 5. Enter the "traceroute" command in the "Command Prompt" window
Type the tracert code [website_web], making sure to replace the parameter [website_web] with the complete URL of the website you want to track (for example facebook.com); then press the Enter key.
- It is not necessary to include the prefix "https:" or "www." within the URL of the website to be tracked.
- If you wish, you can use the IP address of a server or website directly, instead of the URL.
Step 6. Review the results
The Windows "traceroute" command can trace up to 30 network nodes (aka "hops") that will be traversed by IP data packets. When the message "Trace complete" or "Trace complete" appears at the bottom of the list of traced network nodes, it means that the command has completed successfully.
If any of the entries in the list appear empty, it means that the data packet did not go through the indicated node, but came back (most likely the corresponding network router or server is down or for some reason was not in able to reroute data packets to the next network node)
Method 2 of 5: Mac
Step 1. Open the Spotlight search bar by clicking on the icon
It features a magnifying glass and is located in the upper right corner of the screen.
Step 2. Type in the network utility keywords
It will search for the "Network Utility" program within your Mac.
Step 3. Launch the "Network Utility" app
Double click on the icon Network Utility appeared at the top of the results list. The "Network Utility" dialog will be displayed.
Step 4. Click on the Traceroute tab
It is visible at the top of the "Network Utility" window.
Step 5. Enter the address of the website to be tracked
Type it inside the text field located at the top of the window. If you know it, you can also use the IP address.
- For example, to trace the path that data must travel to reach the wikiHow website from your computer, you will need to type the URL wikihow.com in the indicated field.
- It is not necessary to include the prefix "https:" or "www." within the URL of the website to be tracked.
Step 6. Click on the Trace button
It is blue in color and is located in the lower right part of the window. The "Network Utility" program will trace the path that the data packets will have to travel to reach the indicated destination starting from the Mac.
Step 7. Review the results
The "traceroute" command will display the list of network nodes (in jargon called "hops") that will be traversed by the data packets to reach the indicated destination.
If there are any empty entries in the list, ignore them. The latter indicate that the data packets did not cross the node in question, but were returned to the sender (most likely the corresponding network router or server is down or for some reason was unable to reroute the packets. data to the next node)
Method 3 of 5: iPhone
Step 1. Download the iNetTools app
If you have already installed the iNetTools program on your iPhone, you can skip this step. Go to the App Store
and follow these instructions:
- Select the tab Search for;
- Tap the search bar;
- Type in the keyword inettools;
- Select the app inettools - ping, dns, port scan;
- Push the button Get displayed next to the iNetTools app;
- Authenticate with your account using Touch ID or entering your Apple ID password.
Step 2. Launch the iNetTools app
Push the button You open, displayed on the App Store page, or tap the radar-shaped iNetTools app icon that appears on the iPhone Home.
Step 3. Select the Trace Route option
It is displayed in the center of the screen.
Step 4. Tap the "Host Name or IP Address" text field
It is located at the top of the screen. The virtual keyboard of the iPhone will appear on the screen.
Step 5. Enter the address of the website to be tracked
Type in the URL or IP address of the website you want to track.
- For example, if you want to trace the path taken by data packets to reach the Google server closest to your current location, you will need to enter the URL google.com in the indicated field.
- It is not necessary to include the prefix "https:" or "www." within the URL of the website to be tracked.
Step 6. Press the Start button
It is located in the upper right corner of the screen. The iNetTools app will start tracing the network path used by the data packets to reach the indicated address.
Step 7. Review the results
When the icon displayed next to the "Result" table header stops rotating, you will be able to examine the list of addresses of all network nodes or routers that had to traverse the data packets to reach the indicated destination.
If there are any empty entries in the list, ignore them. The latter indicate that the data packets did not cross the node in question, but were returned to the sender (most likely the corresponding network router or server is down or for some reason was unable to reroute the packets. data to the next node)
Method 4 of 5: Android devices
Step 1. Download and install the PingTools app
If you have already installed the PingTools app on your Android device, you can skip this step. Log in to Google Play Store by touching the icon
then follow these instructions:
- Select the search bar;
- Type in the keyword pingtools;
- Select the app PingTools Network Utilities from the list of results;
- Push the button Install;
- Push the button I accept when required.
Step 2. Launch the PingTools app
Push the button You open, displayed on the Google Play Store page, or tap the PingTools app icon that appears in the "Applications" panel.
Step 3. Press the Accept button when prompted
This way you will accept the terms and conditions to be able to use the licensed PingTool app.
If this is not your first time using the PingTools application, you can skip this step
Step 4. Press the ☰ button
It is located in the upper left corner of the screen. The main program menu will be displayed.
Step 5. Select the Traceroute entry
It is displayed in the center of the appeared menu.
Step 6. Select the text field displayed at the top of the screen
The virtual keyboard of the device will appear.
If there is already an address in the text field indicated, delete it before continuing
Step 7. Enter the address of the website to be tracked
Type in the URL or IP address of the website you want to track.
- For example, if you want to trace the path taken by data packets to reach the Twitter server closest to your current location, you will need to enter the URL twitter.com in the indicated field.
- It is not necessary to include the prefix "https:" or "www." within the URL of the website to be tracked.
Step 8. Press the Trace button
It is located in the upper right corner of the screen. The app will trace the path that the data packets will have to use to reach the indicated network address.
Step 9. Review the results
When the execution of the "traceroute" command is complete, you will be able to examine the list of addresses of all network nodes or routers that had to traverse the data packets to reach the indicated destination.
If there are any empty entries in the list, ignore them. The latter indicate that the data packets did not cross the node in question, but were returned to the sender (most likely the corresponding network router or server is down or for some reason was unable to reroute the packets. data to the next node)
Method 5 of 5: Linux
Step 1. Open a "Terminal" window
The steps to follow vary depending on the Linux distribution you are using, but in most cases you will need to click the button Menu and select the icon Terminal
from the list of programs that will appear.
Alternatively, you can press the key combination Alt + Ctrl + T to open the "Terminal" window on most Linux distributions
Step 2. Install the "Traceroute" command
Follow these instructions:
- Type the command sudo apt install traceroute and press the Enter key;
- Type your account login password and press the Enter key;
- Press the y and Enter keys in succession, if required;
- Wait for the installation to finish.
Step 3. Determine the website you want to track
For example, if you want to control which network nodes the data packets must pass through to reach YouTube's servers from your computer, you will need to enter the URL or IP address of the YouTube website.
Step 4. Enter the "traceroute" command in the "Command Prompt" window
Type the tracert code [website_web], making sure to replace the parameter [website_web] with the complete URL of the website you want to track (for example youtube.com); then press the Enter key.
- It is not necessary to include the prefix "https:" or "www." within the URL of the website to be tracked.
- If you wish, you can use the IP address of the website to be tracked, instead of the URL.
Step 5. Review the results
When the execution of the "traceroute" command is complete, you will be able to examine the list of addresses of the network nodes that the data packets had to traverse to reach the indicated destination.
