What is Tracert and why use it?
Tracert, also known as traceroute, is a network utility tool used to trace the route taken by packets of data as they are sent from one device to another. In other words, it is a diagnostic tool that helps identify the path a network packet takes from one device to another in a network. Tracert is built into most operating systems, including Windows, Linux, and macOS, making it easy to use for anyone with a basic understanding of networking.How to use Tracert?
Using Tracert is simple; all you need is the IP address or hostname of the device you want to trace the route to. Follow these steps to use Tracert on Windows:1. Open the Command Prompt by clicking the Start button and typing cmd in the search box.2. In the Command Prompt window, type tracert followed by the IP address or hostname of the device you want to trace the route to.3. Press Enter, and Tracert will start tracing the route.Tracert shows each hop, or intermediary network device, taken by the packets of data on their way to the destination. It displays the IP address of each hop, the name of the device (if available), and the response time of each hop. By analyzing this information, you can identify where a problem may be occurring and take steps to troubleshoot the issue.Advanced Tracert usage
Tracert has some advanced options you can use to customize the output and troubleshoot issues further. Some of these options include:- Specifying the number of hops to trace using -h followed by a number (e.g., tracert -h 15 google.com).- Specifying the number of milliseconds to wait for a response using -w followed by a number (e.g., tracert -w 200 google.com).- Specifying the use of IPv4 or IPv6 using -4 or -6 (e.g., tracert -4 google.com).- Specifying the route recorded in a file using > followed by a filename (e.g., tracert google.com > trace.txt).These options can help you get more detailed and customized outputs, troubleshoot issues faster, and optimize your network performance.Conclusion
In summary, Tracert is a useful networking tool that helps trace the path taken by packets of data in a network. It is easy to use and built into most operating systems. By analyzing the output, you can identify issues and take steps to troubleshoot them. With some advanced options, you can customize the output further and optimize your network performance.